A passenger flight from Prague had to make an unexpected landing in Paphos on Sunday after it could not land at its planned destination, Larnaca Airport. This was because a major storm, named ADEL, brought very dangerous weather to Cyprus. Passengers faced a two-hour delay because of the dense fog, heavy rain, and strong winds. This situation shows how extreme weather can seriously disrupt air travel in the region.
The problem began with a powerful low-pressure system over the Eastern Mediterranean, which lasted from Saturday night through Sunday. The Cyprus Meteorology Department had issued a yellow weather warning for the whole island. They predicted very heavy rain, strong winds, and possible hail. The storm was expected to be at its strongest from Saturday evening until Sunday afternoon, with rainfall in some areas reaching between 35 and 55 millimetres per hour.
When the flight from Prague approached Larnaca, the pilots found extremely poor visibility due to thick fog. The aircraft circled the airport for about thirty minutes, waiting for conditions to improve. When they did not, the pilot decided it was not safe to land. The plane was then directed to Paphos Airport on the west coast, where the weather was somewhat better. After landing in Paphos, the plane was refuelled so it would be ready to complete its journey when possible.
The flight finally arrived in Larnaca at around 4:00 PM, two hours late. While only one flight and its passengers were directly affected, this kind of diversion creates major challenges. Airlines face extra costs and complicated logistics from the need to use an alternate airport, refuel, and then continue to the original destination. It also affects airport schedules and ground services.
Weather officials stated that the unstable conditions would continue, with showers likely on Monday and Tuesday. This means more travel disruptions are possible. The event reminds us that aviation is highly dependent on the weather. Advanced warning systems are essential for safety, even though they sometimes lead to delays and changed plans.