Omar Abdullah
Credit: X/@OmarAbdullah
'Delhi airport is a bloody sh*t show,' an irate Omar Abdullah wrote on X after a delay following a diversion.
The Jammu and Kashmir CM on Saturday apologised for the language on the social media platform, but clarified he was 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," he wrote, sharing a photo of himself in front of an IndiGo flight.
"I’ve no idea what time we will leave from here," Abdullah said.
The flight has now landed in Delhi, as Abdullah shared, "In case anyone is wondering, I got to Delhi just after 3:00 AM". His message was followed by an angry face emoticon, and two yawning ones.
Meanwhile, Delhi airport operator DIAL regretted the inconvenience caused to him and said there are temporary capacity constraints due to runway upgradation and easterly winds.
Replying to the chief minister, DIAL said it has issued several advisories regarding the unseasonal changing wind patterns in Delhi.
"Runway 10/28 has been closed for ILS upgradation since 8th April, following consultation with all stakeholders and based on historical wind patterns," it said in a post at 1110 hours.
Additionally, DIAL said the shift toward more easterly winds and the use of converging runways for easterly arrivals have led to temporary capacity constraints during this upgradation.
"These conditions at times result in flight diversions to ensure passenger safety. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused," it said.
A source at IndiGo said the flight was diverted to Jaipur due to congestion at the Delhi airport.
In recent days, there have been flight delays at the Delhi airport due to closure of one runway for maintenance works and easterly winds.
In recent times, politicians and noted personalities have slammed airlines as well over the quality of service. Air India has found itself in the eye of the storm with MPs Supriya Sule and Shivraj Singh Chouhan flaying the airline over flight delay and a 'broken, sunken seat' in March and February this year, respectively.
IndiGo has not escaped the ire either, with a Telugu actor, a podcaster, and ex-Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai slamming the airline over various issues.
Meanwhile, Abdullah's post drew myriad comments, with one person sharing the plight of passengers at Delhi airport claiming the air-conditioning stopped working.
One individual asked Abdullah about the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits, an issue that haunts the Union Territory to date, while another questioned, "Is it unlucky to share citizen's plight some times ?"
A Bengaluru-oriented handle ironically called for Jyotiraditya Scindia's resignation, although the aviation portfolio now lies with Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu.
Another person pointed out that Abdullah's outrage at Delhi airport might be misguided, claiming that the problem began at Srinagar. The individual claimed a relative was on the same flight and had shared their experience.
(With PTI inputs)