Following a roof collapse incident at Terminal 1 of Delhi Airport IGIA early Friday morning, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has taken swift measures. Operations at Terminal 1, which handles domestic flights for IndiGo and SpiceJet, were suspended indefinitely after heavy rainfall caused the forecourt’s canopy to collapse, resulting in one fatality and injuries to six others.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu convened a high-level meeting where decisions were made to address the aftermath. Flights originally scheduled from Terminal 1 have been redirected to Terminals 2 and 3. In response to potential disruptions, the ministry established a ‘war room’ to oversee full refunds for cancelled flights, ensuring affected passengers are accommodated promptly.
#Update on Delhi T1 Terminal Incident. pic.twitter.com/DqvDUzU095
— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) June 28, 2024
The ministry also instructed airlines to prevent any abnormal surge in airfares to and from Delhi during this period. Airlines have been advised to manage cancellations and rescheduling without imposing penal charges due to the incident.
Review with the Secretary-MoCA, Director General Civil Aviation, DG – BCAS, Chairman – AAI, & Joint Secretaries – MoCA at the Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan on the ongoing works at the Delhi T1 terminal. pic.twitter.com/zGYT9NvbAJ
— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) June 28, 2024
Additionally, the Airports Authority of India has been directed to issue a circular mandating structural inspections at all airports across the country to prevent similar incidents. According to data from aviation analytics company Cirium, 89 flights are slated to depart from Terminal 1 on the following day, underscoring the logistical challenges posed by the closure.
The tragic incident in the Delhi airport claimed the life of Ramesh Kumar, a taxi driver from Delhi, and left six others injured, hailing from Delhi, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. Emergency services responded promptly, underscoring ongoing safety concerns at the airport amid adverse weather conditions.
The ministry’s proactive stance aims to mitigate disruptions and ensure passenger safety as investigations into the structural integrity of Terminal 1 continue.