IndiGo Flight Carrying Omar Abdullah Diverted to Jaipur Amid “Operational Chaos” at Delhi Airport

NEW DELHI — April 20, 2025: A Delhi-bound IndiGo flight from Jammu, carrying former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, was unexpectedly diverted to Jaipur on Saturday night, triggering frustration and renewed scrutiny over airport operations in the national capital. The incident, reportedly due to congestion or weather-related disruptions at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, left passengers stranded past midnight.

Abdullah, known for his candid social media presence, took to X (formerly Twitter) to vent his frustration, describing Delhi Airport as a “bloody st show**” and highlighting the lack of communication and clarity about flight status and onward travel.

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

Stranded for Hours: “No Idea What Time We Will Leave”

The flight, which had been airborne for over three hours, eventually landed in Jaipur after it was unable to secure clearance to land in Delhi. Sharing a selfie from the aircraft’s steps, Omar Abdullah wrote:

“Delhi airport is a bloody s**t 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 here.”

His tweet quickly went viral, sparking responses from fellow passengers and political observers alike, with many echoing concerns over airport congestion and flight mismanagement.

Ripple Effect from Jammu and Srinagar Travel Disruptions

The diversion is part of a broader disruption in northern India’s flight network this weekend. Earlier Saturday, passengers in Jammu and Srinagar faced widespread delays and cancellations due to adverse weather conditions, which IndiGo had already flagged in a #6ETravelAdvisory:

“Unfavourable weather in #Srinagar is impacting flights, but we’re here to keep you informed!”

A follow-up advisory urged passengers to check flight status and consider flexible options, while promising that teams were monitoring the situation closely.

However, the ripple effect was clearly felt across several routes, with the Jammu–Delhi–Jaipur leg becoming one of the most high-profile cases due to Abdullah’s presence onboard.

Airline Response and Operational Challenges

#UPDATE | Indigo flight carrying J&K CM Omar Abdullah took off from Jaipur at 2.00 am and landed in Delhi. https://t.co/gftCxnihTf

— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2025

IndiGo has yet to issue a direct statement addressing Omar Abdullah’s remarks but has acknowledged weather-related disturbances as the root cause of operational delays. Aviation analysts say that Delhi Airport’s increasing traffic, combined with weather unpredictability and staffing shortages, have led to frequent diversions and longer ground wait times, especially during peak hours.

Travelers are advised to check real-time flight updates, stay alert for airline advisories, and prepare for possible rerouting amid volatile spring weather conditions in the region.