A Bengaluru–Bhubaneswar domestic flight was diverted to Lucknow on Wednesday after adverse weather conditions triggered by Kalbaisakhi rain prevented the aircraft from landing at the Bhubaneswar airport.

According to reports, the flight made attempts to land in Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar for some time but was unable to do so due to heavy rain and strong winds prevailing over the city. The aircraft was later diverted to Lucknow as a precautionary measure.

The development came amid widespread Kalbaisakhi activity across several parts of Odisha, including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Thunderstorms and gusty winds affected normal life on Wednesday evening.

Flight Returned After Weather Improved

Sources said the flight returned to Bhubaneswar later in the night after Air Traffic Services (ATS) reportedly confirmed that weather conditions had stabilised and it was safe for landing operations to resume.

The aircraft subsequently departed from Lucknow and landed safely in Bhubaneswar.

All passengers aboard the flight were reported to have returned safely to the city.

Passengers Reportedly Panicked

The sudden change in flight route and the inability to land due to severe weather reportedly caused panic among some passengers onboard.

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The incident also highlighted the impact of Kalbaisakhi-related weather disturbances on air traffic operations in Odisha, with strong winds and rain affecting visibility and landing conditions at the Bhubaneswar airport.