Operation Sindoor Fallout: Chaos at IGI Airport as Flights Cancelled, Passengers Stranded

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Following India's Operation Sindoor targeting terror camps across the border, air travel across North India has taken a major hit. At Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, several flights were delayed or cancelled without prior notice, causing distress among passengers bound for Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Chandigarh, and other northern destinations.

As per available data, 28 international departures and 9 arrivals were delayed. On the domestic front, 9 departures faced delays, while multiple flights to Leh, Srinagar, Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Cochin were cancelled. International flights to Hong Kong, Ben Gurion International (Tel Aviv), Bishkek, and Almaty were also affected.

Many passengers reached the airport only to find their flights cancelled. Confused and frustrated, they were seen moving around terminals with their luggage, unsure whether to wait or return home. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) issued an advisory asking passengers to confirm their flight status with respective airlines before arriving at the airport.

Families and individuals, including students and airline crew, shared their ordeal. Dharambir, who arrived at Terminal 3 with his wife and children for a flight to Leh, said, “We had booked premium economy using miles. Now we don’t know what’s next.” Similarly, Mudabbir, a NEET aspirant from Kota returning to Srinagar, said he would now travel by train due to uncertainty.

Crowds were also seen at the Air India help desk, where people sought rebooking options and refunds. Crew members who reported for duty also remained stranded, uncertain of their schedules.

The disruption is being linked to heightened security measures and airspace restrictions following the precision strikes under Operation Sindoor. Normal flight operations are expected to resume gradually, depending on security clearance.