The Chennai International Airport faced significant disruptions on Friday as several flights were affected by inclement weather ahead of the anticipated landfall of Cyclone Fengal this evening. The airport has been temporarily closed until 7 PM due to heavy rainfall and gusty winds sweeping the region.

Air India issued a warning on social media, stating, "Flights to and from Chennai are getting affected due to inclement weather and heavy rains." IndiGo also provided a travel advisory, confirming that multiple cities, including Tiruchirappalli, Tuticorin, Madurai, Tirupati, and Visakhapatnam, were experiencing flight impacts. Their statement noted, "The current weather conditions continue to affect flights to/from Chennai and other cities."

In a further update, IndiGo announced the temporary suspension of all flight operations at Chennai Airport, prioritizing the safety of passengers and crew. They advised travelers to monitor real-time updates from their respective airlines.

The adverse weather conditions led to at least one flight diversion, with an IndiGo flight from Abu Dhabi to Chennai being rerouted to Bengaluru. Passengers are encouraged to check with IndiGo for further information regarding their travel plans.

The airport urged travelers to confirm the status of their flights to and from various destinations, as many flights have been cancelled or rescheduled in light of the ongoing weather challenges.