‘Seaport’: Heavy rain leaves Jewar airport waterlogged, sparks online jibes

Heavy rainfall caused temporary waterlogging at Noida International Airport in Jewar on Tuesday, with videos circulating online that mocked the airport's drainage system. The footage showed rainwater pooling in the parking area and the passage leading to the terminal. Online users criticized the airport's drainage arrangements, with some sarcastically referring to it as a "seaport."

Airport authorities stated that the waterlogging was temporary and did not impact flight operations or the airport's functionality. They clarified that the rainwater accumulated after an extremely heavy rainfall in a short period, and entered the passage between the terminal and parking area. Airport teams cleared the water within 30 minutes, and there were no disruptions to flights or overall airport operations.

The incident occurred shortly after the airport's Phase I inauguration on March 28, 2026, less than five months prior. The airport, situated along the Yamuna Expressway in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, began commercial flights on June 15. Phase I, developed with a Rs 11,200 crore investment under a public-private partnership, initially supports 12 million passengers annually, with plans to expand to 70 million passengers per year in later phases.

The airport features a 3,900-meter runway capable of handling wide-body aircraft, and is equipped with an Instrument Landing System and airfield lighting for all-weather operations.