Severe weather conditions triggered by Cyclone Ditwah forced five international flights heading to Colombo to make unexpected landings at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Friday. The powerful storm system brought strong winds and heavy rainfall to Sri Lanka, creating unsafe landing conditions at Colombo's main airport.
Flight Diversions and Passenger Handling
The diverted aircraft included an Etihad flight originating from Abu Dhabi, an AirAsia service from Kuala Lumpur, two SriLankan Airlines flights from Dubai and Doha, and an IndiGo flight from Mumbai. All five flights were scheduled to land at Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport but were redirected to the Kerala capital as a safety precaution.
Airline officials and ground-handling agencies swiftly arranged hotel accommodations for affected passengers during the weather disruption. The airlines ensured passenger comfort while waiting for weather conditions to improve in Sri Lanka.
Staggered Return to Colombo
The first flight to depart for Colombo was the IndiGo aircraft at 11:32 AM, once weather monitoring indicated improving conditions. Two SriLankan Airlines flights followed later in the afternoon, while the remaining aircraft returned to their original destination only late in the evening.
Airport authorities in Thiruvananthapuram remained on high alert, prepared to handle additional diversions as meteorological forecasts predicted continued rainfall and strong winds in Sri Lanka and southern Tamil Nadu through Saturday.
Limited Impact on Southern India
Interestingly, while the west coast of Sri Lanka experienced the cyclone's full fury, Thiruvananthapuram and southern Tamil Nadu reported normal weather conditions on Friday without the anticipated windy weather. The nearby Vizhinjam seaport also continued normal operations, though officials confirmed preparedness for potential rough sea conditions.
The incident highlights how extreme weather in neighboring countries can impact Indian aviation infrastructure, with Thiruvananthapuram airport serving as a crucial diversion point for flights affected by weather disruptions in the region.
