SRINAGAR: On Saturday night, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah lashed out at the state of operations at Delhi airport after his flight from Jammu was diverted to Jaipur due to congestion in the skies above the national capital.
Delhi airport is a bloody shit show (excuse my French but I’m in no mood to be polite). 3 hours in the air after we left Jammu we get diverted to Jaipur & so here I am at 1 in the morning on the steps of the plane getting some fresh air. I’ve no idea what time we will leave from… pic.twitter.com/RZ9ON2wV8E
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 19, 2025
Abdullah, travelling on a flight that typically takes about 90 minutes, found himself stuck in the air for over three hours before the aircraft was finally rerouted to Jaipur. He landed at Jaipur airport around 1 am, clearly frustrated, and took to social media to vent.
“Delhi airport is a bloody shit show (excuse my French but I’m in no mood to be polite),” he posted on platform X, sharing a selfie taken from the aircraft stairs. “Three hours in the air after we left Jammu we get diverted to Jaipur & so here I am at 1 in the morning on the steps of the plane getting some fresh air. I’ve no idea what time we will leave from here.”
He later confirmed that he reached Delhi just after 3 am.
The disruption occurred amid ongoing repair and transition work at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. With Terminal 1 recently reopened, operations have shifted entirely from Terminal 2, placing considerable strain on the airport’s capacity and leading to a spate of delays and diversions.
The chaos at Delhi airport has become increasingly visible in recent weeks, with several passengers reporting long queues, delayed baggage handling and insufficient staffing, particularly during peak hours. While no formal statement was issued by the airport authorities following Abdullah’s remarks, his sharp words revived criticism of how India’s busiest airport is being managed.
Adding to the disruption were widespread weather-related issues across northern India. Both Jammu and Srinagar airports reported operational disturbances on Saturday, with multiple flights either delayed or cancelled. Airlines, including IndiGo, had earlier warned passengers about possible delays due to inclement weather.
IndiGo, in a post on Friday, wrote, “Weather conditions in Srinagar are impacting flight operations. We understand this may be inconvenient and sincerely appreciate your patience.”
Abdullah’s experience is among the latest in a string of complaints from travellers, including celebrities and public figures, over the state of air travel through Delhi in recent months. With travel demand on the rise and infrastructure under stress, the situation at the capital’s airport has come under renewed public scrutiny.
