Dibrugarh: An IndiGo flight carrying 144 passengers was diverted to Imphal on Sunday morning after a severe dust storm reduced visibility at Dibrugarh Airport to below the minimum safety threshold.

Flight 6E-6457, operating from Ahmedabad to Dibrugarh via Guwahati, departed from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport at 10.20 a.m. The aircraft was scheduled to land at Dibrugarh at 11.15 a.m., but its arrival coincided with a heavy dust storm that significantly impacted visibility and ground operations.

With conditions falling well below the prescribed minima for a safe landing, the flight crew opted to divert the aircraft to Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, the nearest suitable alternative.

Dibrugarh Airport Director Bangajit Saha said visibility levels at the time were below the minimum safe requirements. "With poor visibility persisting, the crew decided to divert to Imphal as the nearest viable alternative," he said.

The diversion ensured the safety of all passengers and crew on board while authorities monitored weather conditions in Upper Assam. After the dust storm subsided and visibility improved to acceptable levels, air traffic control cleared the aircraft for its onward journey.