Thunderstorm Halts Mexico City Airport; Cancún Flight Canceled, Two International Flights Diverted

Cancún, Quintana Roo — A thunderstorm and heavy rain in Mexico City on Friday afternoon forced Benito Juárez International Airport to temporarily suspend takeoffs and landings, disrupting flights to and from Cancún, airport officials said.

Grupo Aeroportuario Marina said the severe weather prompted the halt in air operations at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) as a precaution to protect passengers and airport personnel.

The suspension was decided after airlines assessed conditions at the airfield, while authorities inspected runways and taxiways to determine when operations could safely resume.

Cancún Flights Affected

Among the affected flights was Aeroméxico 555 on the Cancún–Mexico City route, which was reported as canceled.

Viva Aerobus flight 1373, also scheduled to fly from Cancún to Mexico City, had to return to its airport of origin because of the weather conditions in the capital.

Two International Flights Diverted to Cancún

The disruption also hit international flights headed for Mexico City, which were diverted to Cancún.

American Airlines flight 257, arriving from Miami, and British Airways flight 243, which was flying the London–Mexico City route, were diverted to Cancún International Airport, according to the report of affected flights.

Airport authorities said the resumption of landings and takeoffs would depend on how the weather developed and on safety inspections of the runways.

Preliminary estimates put the reopening of runway 05 left–23 right at around 8 p.m., while runway 05 right–23 left was expected to resume operations around 9 p.m.

Grupo Aeroportuario Marina advised passengers to stay in contact with their airlines and check the status of their flights directly before traveling to the airport, since schedules and operating conditions could change as the storm progressed.