Summary

  • Delhi Airport Terminal 1 roof collapsed due to heavy rainfall and winds, resulting in at least one death and six injuries.
  • Operations of low-cost carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet have been affected.
  • The Union Minister of Civil Aviation assured a thorough examination of airport structure and compensation for victims.

The onset of seasonal rains in Delhi has, unfortunately, led to the collapse of a portion of the roof at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 1. The incident has reportedly claimed one life and affected the operations of the low-cost airlines operating there.

Delhi Airport Terminal 1’s roof collapses

In the early morning hours of June 28, a portion of the roof at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 1 collapsed following heavy rainfall and winds. The incident reportedly took place around 05:00 local time and claimed the life of at least one individual and injured at least six.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu is personally monitoring the situation, and first responders rushed to the site and evacuated the victims to the hospital. He clarified that the portion of the roof that collapsed was not part of the newly inaugurated terminal but of an old building that opened in 2009.

Kinjarapu said that it was a serious incident and that the structure at the airport would be thoroughly examined. He also said that the family of the victim who died will receive a compensation of ₹2 million (approx. $24,000) and set aside a sum of ₹300,000 (approx. $3,600) each for those injured.

According to official reports, the roof sheet and support beams collapsed and fell on cars parked in the terminal’s pick-up and drop-off area. The Delhi Fire Services were informed about it at around 05:30 local time.

Flight operations affected

Terminal 1 of Delhi airport handles domestic operations only of low-cost carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet. Operations have been temporarily affected there, with both IndiGo and SpiceJet canceling several flights.

IndiGo Airbus A320neo landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

Photo: BoeingMan777 | Shutterstock

IndiGo has said that those passengers who were already inside the terminal at the time of the incident were able to board their flights, while other arrangements will be made for those who couldn’t. The airline stated on X (formerly known as Twitter),

“Terminal 1 update – Due to the unforeseen situation at T1 this morning, all flights from #DelhiAirport T1 have been cancelled until 0000 hrs, June 29. Further, flights due to arrive at T1, will now arrive either at T2 or T3 in #Delhi.”

IndiGo also added that it will provide alternate flight options or full refunds to affected passengers and that it may take slightly longer than usual to respond as its contact centers are experiencing high volumes.

SpiceJet, too, has informed its passengers that its Terminal 1 flights remain canceled due to the incident and that it was trying to accommodate T1 flights to Terminal 3, which is mostly reserved for full-service carriers and international flights.

SpiceJet Boeing 737

Photo: Rawisyah Aditya | Shutterstock

Delhi airport

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) is the busiest in India and one of the busiest airports in the world. It is the hub for most major Indian carriers, including the biggest airline, IndiGo.

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It is managed by the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which is a joint venture between GMR Airports Limited (a subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure Limited), the Airports Authority of India, and Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide.

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