Bhubaneswar: A Mumbai–Varanasi Air India flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), Bhubaneswar, on Friday after failing to land at its scheduled destination due to dense fog and extremely poor visibility over Varanasi. The diversion was carried out as a precautionary safety measure in accordance with standard aviation protocols, airport and airline sources said.
According to officials, the aircraft was on its final approach to Varanasi when visibility suddenly deteriorated because of heavy fog, making a safe landing impossible. With visibility levels dropping sharply, air traffic control advised the pilot to divert the flight to Bhubaneswar, where weather conditions were comparatively better. The aircraft landed safely without any incident.
Precautionary Landing, Passengers Safe
Authorities at BPIA confirmed that the emergency landing was precautionary in nature and no injuries were reported. All passengers onboard were safely deplaned after arrival. The airline arranged accommodation, meals and other necessary assistance for the stranded passengers as per aviation norms, while also working on alternative travel arrangements once weather conditions improved.
Airport sources said the dense fog over Varanasi disrupted landing operations for multiple flights, resulting in diversions to nearby airports and significant delays across the region.
Weather Disruptions Affect Flights From Bhubaneswar
The impact of adverse weather was also felt in Bhubaneswar, with at least three outgoing flights reportedly cancelled due to fog-related disruptions at their destination airports in northern India. Officials said flight operations remained dependent on visibility conditions at destination points, and schedules were being reviewed continuously.
Airlines Issue Travel Advisories
The diversion comes amid widespread flight disruptions across northern and eastern India caused by dense fog during early morning hours. Earlier in the day, airlines including Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet issued advisories alerting passengers to possible delays, cancellations and diversions.
Air India said dense fog over Delhi and several parts of northern and eastern India could affect flight schedules and cause cascading delays across its network. IndiGo cautioned passengers, especially those travelling early in the morning, to expect delays due to low visibility. SpiceJet also warned that arrivals and departures in fog-affected regions could be impacted.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), visibility in several parts of northern India dropped to around 100 metres during the early hours, prompting the activation of CAT III instrument landing systems at major airports, including Delhi. Despite these advanced systems, multiple flights were cancelled and several others faced prolonged delays.
Airport authorities and airlines have advised passengers to check flight status before heading to airports, as fog-related disruptions are likely to continue until weather conditions improve.
