Flights diverted due to bad weather in Mangaluru

 Due to adverse weather conditions in Mangaluru, a flight was on Sunday recalled to Bengaluru. Two others were diverted to the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).

The Jet Airways 815 Bengaluru-Mangaluru flight, scheduled for 3 pm, departed from the KIA at 3.27 pm. According to airport sources, the flight had almost reached its destination, but was recalled as it was unable to land. The flight returned to Bengaluru at 4.56 pm and took off again at 6.25 pm.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader and actor Upendra were onboard the flight.
“We were told the flight had to be recalled to Bengaluru. As I was asleep, I did not realise what was happening till the other passengers began to panic. We were told that before landing the pilot hovered around the airport for 20 minutes,” Khader told Deccan Herald.

The minister was on his way to Mangaluru to address a media gathering, and later for an Iftar at his constituency, Ullal. He recalled that the air conditioner in the aircraft had also stopped functioning, triggering panic among the passengers.

Mangaluru International Airport director J T Radhakrishna said Jet Airways 431 Mumbai-Mangaluru flight and Air India Doha-Mangaluru flight were diverted to KIA due to poor visibility. All three flights landed in Mangaluru by evening, he said.

The Meteorological department said though Mangaluru did not receive rain on Sunday, the region remained cloudy and visibility was poor through the day.