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The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in New Delhi experienced a significant disruption to its flight operations on Friday, January 10th, due to exceptionally dense fog. For approximately five hours, between 4:00 AM and 9:00 AM, visibility dropped to zero meters, leading to delays for over 300 flights. While no flights were ultimately cancelled or diverted, the impact on passengers was substantial, with reports of significant delays and considerable inconvenience. The incident highlights the vulnerability of air travel to severe weather conditions and the cascading effects such events can have on airport operations and passenger experiences. The interplay between weather forecasts, airport preparedness, and air traffic control procedures all play a critical role in mitigating the impact of such occurrences. Further investigation is warranted to analyze the effectiveness of existing protocols and explore potential improvements for future situations.
The widespread delays stemmed from the extremely low visibility. FlightRadar24, a flight tracking service, reported the significant number of affected flights. However, the disruption wasn't limited to the Delhi airport itself. An airport official noted that weather conditions at other airports across the country also contributed to delays, as incoming flights arrived late, creating a ripple effect across the schedule. This emphasizes the interconnected nature of air travel and how adverse weather in one location can disrupt operations far beyond its immediate vicinity. The official statements serve to illustrate the complexities involved in managing a major international airport during such a severe weather event.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed the severity of the fog. Senior scientist RK Jenamani stated that the airport experienced dense to very dense fog from 3:30 AM to 9:00 AM, with visibility ranging from 0 to 100 meters. Critically, zero visibility prevailed persistently for a five-hour period between 4:00 AM and 9:00 AM. Despite this, the airport maintained operations using Category III (CAT-III) landing procedures on all four runways. CAT-III procedures allow for landings with significantly reduced visibility, demonstrating the advancements in aviation technology that enable continued operation under challenging conditions. However, even with these advanced technologies, significant delays are inevitable when visibility is reduced to zero. This highlights a need to constantly evaluate and refine operational protocols to minimize delays and maximize safety.
Passengers took to social media to express their frustrations, with several accounts detailing prolonged waits inside aircraft. One passenger, Pratyush Rawat, shared his experience aboard SpiceJet flight SG263 from Delhi to Kolkata, describing a two-hour delay on the tarmac while waiting for takeoff, with infants and elderly passengers onboard. Mr. Rawat's comments point to the human element of the delays and the disproportionate impact on vulnerable passengers. His criticism regarding the lack of planning and communication from the airline highlights a key area for improvement in handling such situations. The complaints demonstrate the need for better communication and passenger management during prolonged delays, potentially involving alternative arrangements like providing passengers with access to airport lounges while awaiting departure.
SpiceJet offered a statement acknowledging the delay and explaining the contributing factors. The airline attributed the delay to the sudden onset of fog immediately after boarding, a flight plan issue within the air traffic control system, and a necessary runway change. They emphasized that all three contributing factors were beyond their direct control. While acknowledging the inconvenience caused to passengers, the airline's statement highlights the complex interplay of factors that can influence the timely execution of flight operations. The interplay between airline operations, airport management, and air traffic control decisions underscores the importance of robust communication and coordination among all stakeholders to minimize the impact of unexpected events. The incident also raises broader questions about the overall resilience of the air traffic management system in the face of unforeseen circumstances such as severe fog.
The incident at IGI Airport underscores the need for continual refinement of operational procedures to handle adverse weather conditions. While CAT-III landing procedures allow for operations in low visibility, zero visibility presents unique challenges that cannot be completely eliminated. Future improvements could focus on enhancing weather forecasting capabilities, improving communication protocols between the airport, airlines, and air traffic control, and developing more effective passenger management strategies for handling delays. The incident also highlights the potential for improvements in the allocation of resources to address unforeseen events more efficiently and minimize disruptions to air travel. The analysis of this event provides valuable insights for enhancing the resilience and efficiency of airport operations in the face of future challenges.
Source: More than 300 flights delayed due to zero visibility at airport