• By Vivek Raj
  • Mon, 15 Jan 2024 06:06 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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Delhi airport witnessed chaos on Monday as more than 150 flights were delayed and around 80 got cancelled amid severe fog conditions and zero visibility. Many passengers took to social media and shared videos of discomfort and crowded terminals. A passenger also hit an Indigo pilot over flight delay and later got arrested.

In response to the challenging conditions, aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia assured the public that all stakeholders are working tirelessly to minimise the impact of fog-related disruptions. Talking about the safety priority, he explained the temporary shutdown of operations, even on CAT III runways that cannot handle zero-visibility conditions.

“Yesterday, Delhi witnessed unprecedented fog wherein visibility fluctuated for several hours, and at times, dropped to zero between 5 AM to 9 AM. The authorities, therefore, were compelled to enforce a shutdown of operations for some time even on CAT III runways (CAT III runways cannot handle Zero-Visibility operations). The decision was taken keeping passenger safety in mind, which remains the foremost priority for all in the aviation ecosystem,” Scindia wrote on social media X.

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To mitigate future issues, Scindia revealed that Delhi Airport has been instructed to expedite the operationalisation of the CAT III-enabled 4th runway, supplementing the existing CAT III-enabled runway. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will issue a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for airlines, emphasising improved communication and passenger facilitation during adverse weather-induced flight cancellations and delays.

Regarding the assault on an Indigo pilot, during a Delhi-Goa flight, Scindia strongly condemned the incident and said, said, “Incidences of unruly behaviour amidst this are unacceptable, and will be dealt with strongly in line with the existing legal provisions.”

A video circulating on social media showed a passenger assaulting the co-pilot. IndiGo Airlines confirmed the incident, stating that the matter has been referred to an independent internal committee for potential inclusion of the passenger on the "no-fly list."

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As the aviation industry navigates these challenges, Scindia requested travelers to cooperate with authorities during this difficult period.