On the morning of October 14, 2026, Istanbul Airport could not accept incoming flights because of strong winds and heavy rain. 43 aircraft that had been scheduled to land at the main international hub were diverted to other airports across Turkey.
- Ankara Esenboğa – 16 planes - İzmir Adnan Menderes – 10 planes - Sabiha Gökçen – 8 planes (take‑offs suspended due to wind‑shear concerns, resumed at 22:02) - Balıkesir Koca Seyit – 2 planes - Çanakkale – 2 planes - Antalya – 1 plane
Istanbul was flooded today after a heavy downpour. https://t.co/yuwjN4KHFA
The blockage at Istanbul Airport forced airlines and ground operators to re‑route the diverted flights and coordinate with the receiving airports. Each airport that received flights had to adjust its slot schedule to accommodate the unexpected arrivals, but no operational details beyond the diversion numbers are available.
By the evening, the weather had eased and Istanbul Airport reopened for arrivals.
By the evening, the weather had eased and Istanbul Airport reopened for arrivals. The incident highlighted the vulnerability of air traffic operations to sudden weather changes and underscored the importance of real‑time monitoring and flexible diversion procedures across the Turkish airspace network.
🚨 Live from Turkey Istanbul https://t.co/B6pPGPJnaV