May day! when calamity struck at airports

A series of structural collapses at multiple airports in the past few years has led to a blame game between some of the operators, and the general public and aviation old-timers. While operators blame extreme climate events, such as torrential rain, for the collapses, others don’t buy this argument and blame questionable quality of construction, hasty implementation to meet unrealistic deadlines and tardy maintenance for the same.
IIT Delhi is probing the collapse of a portion of Delhi airport T1’s roof and some support beams. Govt has directed Airports Authority of India to conduct a thorough check of structural strength at all airports. These reports are awaited to understand why some structures could not take the vagaries of weather while others have been enduring them for decades.
‘Further examination (of IGI T1) will be decided’ based on the outcome of the IIT report. TOI takes a look at similar incidents in India and abroad where airport infrastructure crumbled and the reason/s thereof is awaited.
From Rajkot to Lucknow, India no stranger to life-threatening incidents at airports…
June Delhi | The forecourt’s canopy at T1 of Delhi’s IGI collapsed after heavy rain. One person was killed
June Jabalpur | A portion of roof of new terminal building of Jabalpur airport collapsed following heavy rain. The canopy fell on an unoccupied car, leaving it crushed. The airport was renovated a few months ago at a cost of 450cr
JUNE Rajkot | The canopy outside terminal collapsed due to heavy rain. No injuries
June Lucknow | Moderate rains caused water leakage from roof of airport’s T3, raising concerns about its construction quality. The new terminal was inaugurated only months before in March
March Guwahati | A part of the ceiling of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport collapsed due to heavy rain
July Port Blair | A portion of ceiling of Veer Savarkar International Airport collapsed due to strong winds. The incident took place days after the integrated terminal building was inaugurated
July Ahmedabad | Sardar Vallabhai Patel Airport was flooded with knee-high water after incessant rain across Gujarat
May Bengaluru | Airport’s Terminal 2 witnessed water leakage after heavy rain, forcing flights to be diverted to Chennai
March Chennai | The false ceiling collapsed at check-in area of Chennai domestic airport terminal. Nobody was hurt in the incident