Adverse Weather Diverts Three Flights From Chittagong Airport

Severe weather conditions and relentless downpours have disrupted flight operations at Chittagong’s Shah Amanat International Airport, forcing three incoming flights to abandon their landing attempts. From Tuesday morning until 4:30 pm, the affected aircraft—comprising two international flights and one domestic flight—failed to touch down safely in the port city. Consequently, air traffic control diverted all three to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil, the public relations officer at Shah Amanat International Airport, confirmed the logistical disruptions. He stated that the continuous torrential rain had significantly compromised visibility on the runway, making standard landing procedures hazardous.

Amongst the disrupted operations was US-Bangla Airlines flight BS-350, arriving from Abu Dhabi, which was forced to reroute to the capital. Similarly, Air Arabia flight G9-526 from Sharjah was unable to land and had to be safely diverted to Dhaka. The national flag carrier was also affected; Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-121, operating on the domestic Dhaka-Chittagong sector, abandoned its approach and returned to its point of origin.

Airport authorities revealed that gusty winds in the vicinity reached speeds of 80 to 90 kilometres per hour, creating dangerous crosswind conditions for landing aircraft. Despite the grounding of arrivals, outbound flights managed to depart from Chittagong. However, the inclement weather caused widespread delays, with all arrival and departure schedules pushed back by thirty minutes to an hour.

The aviation disruptions follow days of escalating rainfall across the region. The spell began as a light drizzle on Sunday morning before intensifying into heavy showers on Monday. By Tuesday morning, the coastal city was battered by incessant, torrential downpours that inundated several low-lying areas. The Patenga Meteorological Office recorded a staggering 386.8 millimetres of rainfall in the 24 hours leading up to 12:00 pm on Tuesday, highlighting the sheer scale of the weather system currently affecting the region. Authorities have indicated that normal flight operations will resume once wind speeds drop and visibility improves.