Hailstorm forces Dubai-Kathmandu flight carrying 161 passengers to divert to Lucknow

A flydubai flight from Dubai to Kathmandu carrying 161 passengers was diverted to Lucknow after Kathmandu’s runway was rendered unavailable by a hailstorm. This development involved the aircraft designated as FZ539, which was originally scheduled to land in Kathmandu at 3:00 pm, according to the reporting sources.

Upon diversion, the aircraft touched down at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow as a precautionary measure, with Lucknow airport officials confirming the use of the airport as an alternate landing site due to the weather-related disruption at Kathmandu’s runway. Ground support and operational assistance were provided by Lucknow airport upon the aircraft’s arrival.

Following the completion of required ground formalities and coordination with relevant authorities, the flight departed Lucknow for Kathmandu at 4:36 pm, resuming its journey after the diversion. The available material notes that the diversion was prompted by Kathmandu Airport’s runway being unavailable because of the hailstorm.

The reporting on this diversion comes from two outlets covering the same event: The New Indian Express and The Times of India. The New Indian Express states that the flight carried 161 passengers and was diverted to Lucknow due to the hailstorm affecting Kathmandu’s runway. The Times of India corroborates the passenger count and specifies that the diversion was a precautionary measure following Kathmandu’s runway disruption caused by hail.

Both outlets identify the aircraft as flydubai flight FZ539 and confirm the original Kathmandu arrival time of 3:00 pm. The Times of India emphasizes that Lucknow airport officials described the situation as necessitating a diversion after the hailstorm impacted Kathmandu Airport’s runway, necessitating an alternate landing site. The New Indian Express highlights Lucknow’s role in providing ground support and operational assistance upon arrival and notes that, after formalities, the aircraft departed Lucknow at 4:36 pm for Kathmandu.

Regarding injuries or further outcomes, the supplied material does not detail any injuries, medical emergencies, or casualties associated with the diversion. Both reports focus on the operational sequence of diversion, ground handling, and subsequent departure to continue the journey, without reporting additional incidents or consequences beyond the diversion itself.

No additional information about weather conditions at Lucknow, the status of Kathmandu’s runway post-event, or the broader impact on the airline’s schedule is provided in the supplied material. The available sources concentrate on the sequence: hailstorm impacting Kathmandu’s runway, diversion of the Dubai–Kathmandu flight FZ539 to Lucknow, ground handling by Lucknow airport, formalities completed, and the flight resuming its journey to Kathmandu at 4:36 pm.