DENSE fog severely impacted flight operations at Raja Bhoj Airport on Tuesday morning, as visibility levels plummeted to a mere 100 meters. The inclement weather conditions forced the cancellation of the Indigo PuneBhopal-Pune flight, leaving scores of passengers stranded and causing significant inconvenience.

 

Low visibility triggers safety protocols: As the fog thickened during the early hours, airport authorities immediately implemented ‘Safeguarding’ procedures in compliance with aviation safety standards. While the airport is equipped with a Category-II (CAT-II) Instrument Landing System, which allows for safe landings at a minimum visibility of 350 meters, the actual visibility was far below the operational threshold.

 

Consequently, airlines were forced to suspend operations until weather conditions showed signs of improvement. Diversion of Agra-bound flight: The weather crisis in the region also led to the diversion of outstation flights. Indigo flight 6E662 (Hyderabad–Agra) was diverted to Bhopal airport after extreme weather conditions in Agra made landing impossible.

 

The aircraft landed safely in Bhopal at 1:51 pm and remained on the tarmac until the weather cleared at its destination. The flight eventually departed for Agra at 3 pm. According to airport administration, the first successful landing following the fog dispersal took place at 8:55 am.

 

Operations gradually returned to their scheduled routine as the day progressed. By 6 pm, the airport managed the movement of 24 aircraft, facilitating the travel of 3,402 passengers.