A severe dust storm that swept through Delhi on Friday evening brought flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport to a standstill, causing major disruption for passengers. Between Friday evening and Saturday morning, over 50 domestic flights were delayed, 25 flights were diverted, and at least seven were cancelled, according to airport sources.
The storm triggered widespread confusion at the airport, with passengers stranded for hours and boarding areas overwhelmed due to rescheduled and delayed flights. “After the dust storm, many flights were diverted and cancelled, which caused significant inconvenience to passengers. The diverted flights took time to return, creating a rush at the airport,” said a senior official.
Airlines blamed the delays on congestion at Air Traffic Control (ATC), while passengers shared their frustration online, citing lack of communication, poor handling, and unresponsive airline staff.
One passenger, Dr. HY Desai, posted a detailed complaint on X about Flight AI 2512, scheduled for 7:30 PM on April 11. “Passengers were held hostage all night by Air India without clear updates. No water or food was provided unless passengers protested,” he wrote, adding that the CISF personnel appeared indifferent to the passengers’ grievances.
Another traveler, Vipul Singh, shared a video of the crowded Terminal 3, calling it an “ultra mismanagement and stampede-like situation.”
Air India confirmed that a total of 22 of its flights were diverted and five cancelled due to the storm. Meanwhile, senior CISF officers and airport officials were reportedly on-site to manage the situation and address complaints, although chaos and passenger dissatisfaction remained high.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is yet to respond to mounting concerns over airline accountability and passenger rights during such disruptions.
