The Authority rerouted 11 aircraft – five IndiGo, four Air India, one Akasa Air and one Air India Express – from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport to nearby hubs on Tuesday as a sudden thunderstorm rolled into the city.
The weather report from the India Meteorological Department warned of 80‑percent probability of rain, wind speeds reaching 70 km/h and visibility dropping below 2 km, making a safe landing at Mumbai impossible.
Passengers on flight AI2941 from Delhi, now parked in Surat, complained of a 3‑hour delay, while a family from Pune stuck at the airport said they feared missing a critical business meeting. IndiGo’s chief operating officer, Arun Kumar, tweeted that the airline would accommodate affected passengers with alternate flights.
Airports Authority of India spokesperson S. R. Gupta said the diversion plan was executed within minutes of the first reports and that all flights will re‑attempt landing once visibility improves. The Authority will re‑evaluate the situation at 1100 hrs and aim to resume normal operations by evening.
Passengers are advised to check the official airport website for real‑time updates, and airlines are coordinating to reschedule flights starting 1400 hrs today.