Fact Check: Mumbai rains flood airport runway? No, video shows flooded Chennai airport in 2023

Hyderabad: Mumbai received over 300 mm of rain in 24 hours, making this the second-wettest August in a decade. The downpour caused severe waterlogging, flight delays, stalled monorail and train services, and massive traffic disruptions, prompting the IMD to issue flood alerts and city-wide emergency measures.

Meanwhile, a video showing a flooded runway with aircraft stranded and aviation staff working on the tyre of one plane is circulating on social media, with the claim that it is from Mumbai airport.

An X user shared the video with the caption, “#Mumbai Airport Today.” (Archive)

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is false, as the video shows Chennai airport in 2023.

A reverse image search of the video’s keyframes led us to the footage shared by several X users (links here and here) on December 4, 2003, stating that the video is from Chennai airport.

We also found the video published by Times Now on X on the same date. The channel had stated that Cyclone Michaung brought heavy rain to Chennai, flooding the airport runway and disrupting operations.

The Times of India and India Today published similar visuals on December 4.

According to both media outlets, Cyclone Michaung had triggered heavy overnight rain in Chennai, flooding the airport runway and parking bays, disrupting flight operations with several cancellations and diversions.

The Hindu and The Indian Express reported that a total of 1,500 passengers were stranded and 300 flights were cancelled at Chennai airport as Cyclone Michaung unleashed heavy rains and flooding, bringing airport operations to a standstill on December 4, 2023.

Hence, we conclude that the claim is false. The video does not show the flooding of the airport runway in Mumbai, but at Chennai airport in 2023.