Logo

Logo

# India

Mumbai airport’s main runway shut, may take 48 hours to resume operations

Domestic airlines have posted messages on social media warning people of cancellation and delays.

SNS | New Delhi | July 2, 2019 1:46 pm

Mumbai airport’s main runway shut, may take 48 hours to resume operations

A 150-metre ramp is being prepared to push the aircraft out of the grassy area which is still stuck at the end of the runway. (Photo: Twitter | @VitheshNaik)

The Mumbai international airport authorities on Tuesday said that it could take up to 48 hours to resume flight operations on the main runway after it was closed on Monday night following the overshooting of a SpiceJet aircraft while landing amid heavy rain.

A 150-metre ramp is being prepared to push the aircraft out of the grassy area which is still stuck at the end of the runway.

Air India’s disabled aircraft recovery kit has been mobilised for the preparations, Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) spokesperson informed.

Advertisement

As the main runway is out of use, the second runway has been made operational. The authorities have urged passengers to expect delay in flight operations.

Amid heavy rains, a SpiceJet flight from Jaipur overshot the runway while landing at Mumbai airport just before midnight on Monday. However, no one was injured in the incident.

Several flights have been diverted to other airports such as Ahmedabad and Bengaluru. Also, the bad weather conditions became reason to make a Korean Air flight KE655 divert to Ahmedabad. It was coming from Seoul to Mumbai.

Similarly, a Lufthansa flight LH756, which was coming from Frankfurt, and an Air India flight AI331, which was coming from Bangkok had to be diverted to other airports.

Domestic airlines have posted messages on social media warning people of cancellation and delays. Air Vistara has confirmed the cancellation of ten flights in and out of Mumbai, including flights to Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai.

SpiceJet and Indigo have also tweeted, warning passengers that the rains in Mumbai could affect departures and arrivals. Both airlines have asked passengers to check for delays and cancellations of flights before leaving for the airport.

The Meteorological Department has warned of “extremely heavy” rainfall in adjoining areas of Thane and Palghar on July 2, 4 and 5.

Private weather agency Skymet said Mumbai is at “serious risk of flooding” between July 3 and 5. “Close to 200 mm or more rain per day is likely during this period, which could hamper normal life,” it said.

Apart from air, road and rail traffic have also been massively affected because of the torrential rains that have continued to lash the metropolitan city for the fifth day.

Advertisement

Related posts