The adverse weather conditions over Colombo forced the diversion of two international flights to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala. One of the diverted flights was a Turkish Airlines flight originating from Istanbul, carrying 258 passengers and 10 crew members. The second flight, operated by SriLankan Airlines, departed from Dammam in Saudi Arabia with 188 people onboard, including 8 crew members. Both flights safely landed at Thiruvananthapuram around 7 am.
Airport response and subsequent flight operations
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport authorities efficiently managed the unscheduled arrivals, ensuring the passengers and crew were well taken care of during the unexpected stopover. Once the weather conditions over Colombo improved, the flights departed from Thiruvananthapuram at around 8:38 am and 8:48 am, respectively, continuing their journey to Sri Lanka. The airport's prompt handling of the situation highlighted its readiness to accommodate such emergency diversions.
Weather challenges affecting Colombo airspace
The diversions were attributed to severe and persistent bad weather over Colombo’s airspace, which rendered safe landings at Colombo’s airport impossible at the time. Such diversions underscore the challenges posed by unpredictable weather patterns impacting international flight schedules in the region.
Flight to Jaffna cancelled due to bad weather
Earlier, a flight carrying 44 passengers to Jaffna, Sri Lanka, was diverted to Tiruchirappalli due to adverse weather conditions in northern Sri Lanka’s Jaffna region. The aircraft, operated by a private airline, had departed at 10:20 am. but was forced to change course shortly after takeoff when the pilot was informed about the severe weather. The plane landed safely at Tiruchirappalli, where passengers awaited further updates as hopes remained for an improvement in weather conditions over Jaffna.Cancellation and rescheduling
After over three hours of delay with no improvement in the weather, airline officials decided to cancel the flight. Subsequently, the aircraft returned to Chennai. Passengers were informed that the journey had been rescheduled for Sunday. Another flight from Tiruchirappalli to Jaffna by the same airline was also cancelled due to poor weather. Passengers from this second flight will be accommodated on the rescheduled Sunday service.
Impact and safety measures
This cancellation highlights the challenges flights face due to unpredictable weather patterns in the region. The airline prioritised passenger safety by diverting and eventually cancelling flights after waiting for favorable conditions. Travelers are advised to monitor weather updates and flight status closely in such situations to plan accordingly.
