Dense fog enveloped the national capital on Monday, severely disrupting flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and prompting senior officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry to review ground preparedness and real-time operations. According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, at least 100 flights were cancelled while more than 300 flights faced delays due to low visibility conditions.
Officials visited the airport’s Operations Control Centre to take stock of the situation and assess coordination among airlines, air traffic control, and airport authorities. Sources said the focus was on managing passenger inconvenience and ensuring safety amid rapidly changing weather conditions.
There were reports suggesting that CAT III, the advanced instrument landing system that allows aircraft to land in extremely low visibility, was not functioning properly. However, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) dismissed these claims, stating that CAT III systems were fully operational and that flight movements were being conducted under CAT III conditions.
The fog episode coincided with alarming air pollution levels in the city. At 6 am, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 456, categorised as “severe” and recorded as the second-worst AQI of the season so far. An AQI above 400 poses serious health risks, especially for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory ailments.
The worsening air quality also triggered action at the policy level. Later in the day, the Union Environment Minister chaired a review meeting on anti-pollution measures for Ghaziabad and Noida, as part of a series of planned reviews across the Delhi-NCR region to tackle the persistent pollution crisis.
Authorities have advised passengers to check flight status before heading to the airport, allow extra travel time, and stay in touch with airlines for updates. With winter setting in and fog expected to intensify in the coming weeks, aviation officials are preparing for more such disruptions while stressing that safety remains the top priority.
