Mumbai rains: Nearly 20 flights diverted to Ahmedabad

As flight after flight from rain-ravaged Mumbai were diverted to other airports, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPI) here was thrown into chaos since Tuesday night, with nearly 20 of the aircraft making unscheduled landing till Wednesday morning.  

The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) began diverting Mumbai-bound flights from Tuesday late evening, after a Varanasi-Mumbai SpiceJet aircraft, SG 703, with 183 passengers on board, overshot a runway on landing at Mumbai airport and got stuck in mud.

Confirming the same, Manoj Gangal, Airport Director, said, “Since Tuesday midnight, nearly 18-20 flights were diverted here. The flights went back by 7 am on Wednesday. Our staff worked very hard all night to handle the rush.”

A passenger from Ahmedabad said, “Air Canada flight was diverted to Hyderabad.”

Many airlines were giving a refund. A Delhi-bound SpiceJet flight from Surat had also made an emergency landing at SVPI early on Tuesday after its pilot noticed the tail fire warning light on and requested for diversion to Ahmedabad. The flight had 164 passengers on board.