Kolkata: No flights could land at Bagdogra airport until noon on Tuesday, leading to the cancellation of four flights and the diversion of five flights to Kolkata. This was due to dense fog in and around Siliguri and a non-functional instrument landing system that prevented flight landings even when visibility increased.
The first aircraft touched down at 11:52 am when the visibility exceeded 1,600 metres. "Five morning flights—three IndiGo, one SpiceJet, and one Akasa – were diverted to Kolkata, which flew back to Bagdogra in the afternoon. But two IndiGo, an Air India and a Druk Air flughts were cancelled," said an airport official.
Tuesday's flight disruption unsettled the travel plans of thousands of tourists. "AI2725 Air India flight left Delhi at 8 am and still hasn't reached its destination. My sister and one-year-old nephew have been suffering since morning. The flight to Bagdogra didn't land due to low visibility and was diverted to Kolkata, where they kept waiting with no food, water or support... Don't know when they can reach Bagdogra," a user, Pankaj Karmakar, wrote on X.
SpiceJet issued a statement on X: "Due to bad weather in Bagdogra (IXB), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected."
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