Diwali smog causes 26 flight delays and one diversion at Chennai airport

Smoke from firecrackers during Diwali disrupted operations, leading to delays and a flight being diverted to Bengaluru.

Disruptions

India◔ Developing📰 2 sources⏱ 1 min read

By SafarSamachar Desk9 Nov 2026, 4:56 pm IST

Illustration of Chennai airport runway with aircraft silhouettes and city skyline under clear morning light. — Illustration: SafarSamachar Pix Desk, created with AI assistance. Not a photograph of the event.

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Key facts at a glance

126 flights delayed at Chennai airport due to Diwali smog
2One flight from Raipur was diverted to Bengaluru
3Smoke from firecrackers caused the disruption

Diwali celebrations in and around Chennai produced a thick smog layer that disrupted operations at the airport.

The smog caused 26 flights to be delayed, while one flight originating from Raipur was diverted to Bengaluru.

Firecracker smoke lowered visibility and degraded air quality, making it difficult for aircraft to operate on schedule.

What this means for Indian travellers

If you are flying from or to Chennai during Diwali, be prepared for potential delays due to smog caused by firecrackers.

Sources

This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above, following our accuracy rules; it has not yet been individually reviewed by an editor. Read our editorial policy.Rules and schedules change - confirm with the airline or embassy before you travel. Spotted an error? Tell us.

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