Kolkata: Thick fog blanketed the skies over Kolkata on Thursday morning, causing severe disruptions to flight operations at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. With visibility plunging to an unusually low 50 meters due to water vapor entering from the sea, air travel was thrown into disarray for several hours, leaving passengers stranded and flights rerouted.
The disruption began as early as 5 AM, grounding 39 departing flights and delaying the arrival of 21 inbound flights. In addition, 12 flights had to be diverted to nearby airports for safety reasons. While seven of these were rerouted to Bhubaneswar, three were directed to Ranchi, and the remaining two landed in Chennai and Shamsabad near Hyderabad. Among the affected carriers were IndiGo, Akash Air, Air India Express, as well as airlines from Bangladesh and the UAE.
According to airport officials, the situation gradually improved after 9 AM as visibility began to return to normal. However, the lingering fog persisted until 10 AM, further delaying flight schedules. By mid-morning, the diverted flights were able to return to Kolkata with their passengers, but the knock-on effects of the disruption extended well into the afternoon.
In total, the dense fog affected operations of 72 flights, highlighting the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions despite the airport’s advanced fog-handling technology. Airport authorities explained that the exceptionally low visibility exceeded operational thresholds, prompting the diversions and delays. Bhubaneswar and Ranchi airports, known for serving as alternative hubs during emergencies, handled the majority of rerouted flights.
The disruption left travelers frustrated, with several sharing their grievances about missed connections and extended delays. “I had a crucial meeting in Delhi and needed to get there by 8 AM, but my flight was grounded for hours. It was extremely inconvenient,” said one passenger.
Experts have emphasized the need for enhanced preparedness for such weather-related events, especially during winter months when fog frequently disrupts operations in eastern India. While Kolkata airport boasts modern equipment to handle such situations, authorities have acknowledged that extreme weather conditions like those experienced on Thursday pose significant challenges.
This widespread disruption serves as a reminder of the critical role that contingency planning and close coordination between airports play in minimizing the impact of unexpected weather events on air travel. As skies cleared by midday, airport operations resumed normalcy, though the ripple effects of the morning’s chaos were felt throughout the day.
