MAS Flights To Delhi Diverted Due To Thick Fog

January 01, 2007 22:32 PM

By P. Vijian

NEW DELHI, Jan 1 (Bernama) -- The daily Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight from Kuala Lumpur (KL) to the Indian capital has been diverted due to thick fog hanging over the city since Sunday night and most of today.

A MAS flight that departed from Malaysia to New Delhi, Sunday carrying about 200 passengers was diverted to Kolkata after authorities at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi started to divert flights entering the Indian airspace.

Another 200 passengers heading to KL are currently stranded at the Delhi airport as most flight operations were disrupted with runway visibility dropping to about 130 metres.

"This is the first time it has happened to us (MAS). The fog is common during the winter months of December and January and it is difficult for flights to land," MAS Delhi-based regional manager Christopher Yek Hua Yong told Bernama.

He said Sunday's flight from KL was diverted to Mumbai but since there were no space at the airport, the flight was then diverted to Kolkata and was only expected to arrive in Delhi tomorrow morning.

And, the passengers flying to KL, who are stranded in Delhi, can only leave the airport Tuesday if the sky is clear.

Airport authorities had diverted at least 20 domestic and 12 international flights since last night as the stubborn fog refused to disappear even at the break of dawn, Monday.

Another MAS flight which departed from KL to Delhi, Monday is yet to arrive. The national airline has only one flight to Delhi daily.

If the foggy situation continues and visibility drops below zero metres then the airport would be closed for flight operations.

However, there was some respite despite the disturbing fog that shrouded the entire city today as Delhi enjoyed a warmer day with temperature at about eight degrees Celsius.

Source: BERNAMA

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