CM Omar Abdullah Expresses Frustration Over Flight Diversion
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Synopsis
On April 20, Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah expressed frustration after an IndiGo flight from Jammu to Delhi was diverted to Jaipur due to various issues, including adverse weather. Passengers faced prolonged delays, leading to a public outcry over the situation at Delhi Airport.
Key Takeaways
- Flight from Jammu diverted to Jaipur.
- CM Omar Abdullah criticized the situation.
- Passengers stranded for hours.
- Delhi Airport congestion cited as a major issue.
- Weather in Srinagar affected operations.
New Delhi, April 20 (NationPress) Following the diversion of a Delhi-bound IndiGo flight from Jammu to Jaipur due to various factors, including unfavorable weather conditions, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was onboard, voiced his strong discontent with the situation.
The flight carrying the Chief Minister was rerouted to Jaipur on Saturday night.
In a late-night update on X, CM Abdullah detailed his experience, stating that the flight, which had departed from Jammu, was in the air for three hours before being redirected to Jaipur due to "apparent congestion or disruption" at Delhi Airport.
He mentioned that passengers, himself included, were left stranded on the runway at Jaipur Airport for hours.
The Chief Minister also posted a selfie taken while standing on the aircraft's steps after stepping outside briefly for some fresh air.
"Delhi airport is a complete mess (pardon my language, but I'm not in a mood to be diplomatic). After spending 3 hours in the air since we left Jammu, we get diverted to Jaipur, and here I am at 1 AM on the plane steps trying to get some fresh air. I have no idea when we will depart from here," he remarked.
After three additional hours, the plane finally arrived in the national capital, after which the CM provided an update, stating, "In case anyone is curious, I reached Delhi just after 3:00 AM."
The Jammu airport experienced chaotic scenes on Saturday, with numerous passengers expressing frustration after bad weather caused flight cancellations in Srinagar. Many travelers shared videos on social media depicting the growing crowd inside the terminal.
Despite advisories issued by the airlines for passengers traveling from Jammu Airport, the disorder continued, prompting the CM’s remarks, who attributed the situation to Delhi airport issues.
IndiGo stated on X, "Weather conditions in Srinagar are affecting flight operations. We understand this may cause inconvenience and sincerely appreciate your patience. Please stay informed about your flight status in real-time. If your flight is affected, you can consider flexible rebooking options or easily claim a refund through our website. Our teams are actively monitoring the situation and will resume smooth operations as soon as the weather improves."
SpiceJet commented, "Due to adverse weather in Srinagar (SXR), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may be impacted. Passengers are advised to verify their flight status."
The Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi has recently ceased operations at Terminal 2 (T2) for maintenance work, with airlines like IndiGo and Akasa relocating all flights that operated from T2 to Terminal 3 and the newly upgraded Terminal 1.
Terminal 2 has been closed for repairs since April 15 and will remain so for approximately four months. The IGI Airport also issued a public advisory warning passengers about potential flight delays on Friday due to shifting wind patterns in the vicinity.
