Patna: Air travel in Patna turned extremely difficult on Thursday morning when VIP aircraft arriving for a major political event caused heavy congestion in the air. The movement of the Prime Minister and several VVIP leaders led to around 30 chartered planes landing within two hours. As a result, commercial flights had to wait for landing permission, leaving hundreds of passengers circling above the city helplessly.
One of the most affected flights was an Air India Express coming from Delhi. Passengers said that although the aircraft reached Patna at 10:15am, it kept hovering for almost an hour and a half because of overcrowded airspace. Many people inside the flight felt dizzy and nervous as the waiting continued without any information. The aircraft finally landed at around 11:35am, nearly 90 minutes later than expected.
Three IndiGo flights also suffered due to the pressure on the runway and had to be diverted. Two flights heading from Delhi to Patna were diverted to Varanasi, while another from Hyderabad landed in Gaya after circling unsuccessfully. The Hyderabad flight stayed in Gaya for almost an hour and returned to Patna only when air traffic became lighter around noon. Passengers described the experience as uncomfortable and stressful.
A traveller named Ashok Sinha posted his frustration on Facebook, saying that people in Patna are used to traffic jams on roads during VIP visits, but this time passengers were stuck in the air instead. He added that many inside the aircraft felt sick but there was no assistance for them. His complaint sparked discussions online about the inconvenience caused to the public during large-scale political gatherings.
Meanwhile, Airport Director Chandra Prasad Dwivedi rejected the reports of a 90-minute wait in the air. He said that during heavy air traffic, a go-around for 10 to 15 minutes is common, but more than that is unlikely due to fuel limits. He also claimed that the decision to divert flights is taken by pilots according to safety procedures and not by airport officials. Despite this explanation, passengers are demanding better coordination during such VVIP movements.
The incident has raised wider questions about whether commercial flights should be allowed to face such delays when VIP aircraft are in operation. Many passengers have urged for planning and scheduling that protects the interests of the public and prevents mid-air distress in the future.
