Delhi Airport Chaos: Over 500 Flights Delayed After Hailstorm

New Delhi, May 6, 2026 — Travel plans for thousands of passengers were thrown into disarray at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Tuesday, as a sudden and intense bout of unseasonal weather combined with external geopolitical tensions to create a day of severe operational disruption.

What began as a typical Tuesday afternoon quickly turned chaotic when a powerful storm, characterized by heavy rain, gusty winds, and a sudden hailstorm, battered the national capital. The extreme weather conditions, centered heavily around the airport’s immediate vicinity, forced a total rethink of flight schedules, leading to a ripple effect of delays impacting over 500 arrivals and departures.

A Storm Strikes Without Warning

The weather turned sharply in the early afternoon, catching commuters and travelers off guard. Specifically, areas including Dwarka, Palam, and Najafgarh—which house the IGI Airport—experienced a intense downpour accompanied by hail.

For the aviation sector, this was the worst-case scenario. When visibility drops and wind speeds pick up, safety protocols mandate that flights cannot land or take off safely. According to airport officials, the critical window of disruption occurred between 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., when the severity of the weather made it impossible to maintain normal operations.

During this period, at least five flights were forced to divert to nearby airports to ensure passenger safety. While the storm provided a temporary respite from the sweltering May heat, the immediate consequence was a massive backlog of air traffic. Data from the flight-tracking portal Flightradar24 indicated that over 500 flights were delayed, with average wait times extending to 30 minutes, though many travelers reported much longer hold-ups as the schedule struggled to recover for the rest of the evening.

Compounding the Chaos

While the weather was the primary cause of the day’s immediate operational struggles, it was not the only factor. The airport was already under strain due to separate flight cancellations linked to a recent drone-related attack in the Middle East.

Since late Monday night, May 4, airport authorities confirmed that 10 flights—specifically operating between Delhi and cities in West Asia, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Baghdad—had been cancelled. This added an extra layer of operational complexity, as ground staff and airline coordination teams had to manage both the weather-related backlog and the rebooking or cancellation procedures for travelers affected by the regional tensions.

The Human Toll: Passenger Frustration

For passengers, the impact was visceral. Many found themselves stranded on tarmacs or waiting in crowded terminal halls for hours. The Delhi Airport authorities were quick to issue advisories on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), urging passengers to check the status of their flights with their respective airlines before heading to the airport.

“Flight operations may be impacted due to a hailstorm near Delhi airport, which could result in delays or short-term disruptions,” the advisory read. Despite these warnings, the sheer volume of delayed flights meant that terminal infrastructure was pushed to its limits.

A Silver Lining: Weather Relief

Despite the significant travel disruption, the storm brought a much-needed cooling effect to a city that had been reeling under high temperatures. On Tuesday, the Safdarjung observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 33.6°C, which is significantly lower than what Delhiites have been experiencing recently. The air quality also saw a marked improvement, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hovering in the “satisfactory” category—the best air quality recorded in the city since October 2025.

The Road Ahead

As of Wednesday, May 6, operations at IGI Airport have largely stabilized. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has not issued a specific colour-coded warning for Wednesday, suggesting that the major weather disturbance has passed. However, weather experts have cautioned that the city may still witness isolated, thundery developments towards the evening due to the lingering effects of the western disturbance.

The IMD expects the atmosphere to settle by Thursday, after which temperatures are anticipated to begin a gradual climb once more. Residents and travelers are being advised to keep an eye on weather updates, as the transition away from this western disturbance is likely to signal a return to warmer summer conditions, with the mercury expected to hit 40°C by the coming Sunday.

What Should Passengers Do?

For those with upcoming travel plans, the lesson from Tuesday is clear: monitor your flight status actively.

• Check Online: Always check the airline website or mobile application before leaving for the airport.
• Stay Informed: Monitor official social media channels for the Delhi Airport and the IMD.
• Be Patient: While airlines and airport staff are working to normalize schedules, extreme weather events create a “domino effect” that can take hours to clear.

While Tuesday was a day of frustration for many, it served as a reminder of the fragility of modern connectivity in the face of unpredictable climate events. As the city breathes a sigh of relief from the heat, aviation authorities are shifting their focus to clearing the remaining backlog and ensuring that the coming days see a smoother transition back to normalcy.