Several flights at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport faced delays on Sunday night due to the temporary closure of the main runway caused by inclement weather. The India Meteorological Department had predicted rain and thunderstorms in Mumbai as cyclone Biparjoy intensified into an ‘extremely severe cyclonic storm,’ expected to make landfall on the western coastline on June 15.
Responding to passenger complaints, Air India released a statement attributing the delays to the closure of runway 09/27 and other factors beyond their control. IndiGo Airlines also expressed regret and explained that schedule changes are made only under extreme and uncontrollable circumstances. Akasa Air cited air traffic congestion as the reason for the delay of their Mumbai-Bengaluru flight.
Passengers took to social media to express their frustration. One user criticized Akasa Air for the chaos caused by multiple delays and gate changes. Another shared a video of a woman arguing with IndiGo Airlines staff at the airport. Another passenger sought help from government officials, tweeting about a delay of over five hours with no accommodation provided.
Meanwhile, Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra experienced heavy rain and strong winds due to cyclone Biparjoy. Dust particles in the air affected visibility and air quality, and gusty winds caused some trees to fall in Mumbai. Tourists in Ganpatipule town were caught off guard by huge waves but fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com