Heavy fog in Istanbul disrupts flights at Sabiha Gokcen Airport
An aerial view of the city as a fog blanket of fog covers the buildings in the Atasehir district of Istanbul, Türkiye on April 05, 2025. (AA Photo)
Thick fog has been affecting Istanbul since the early hours of the morning, causing disruptions in air and road traffic.
AJet announced that several inbound flights to Sabiha Gokcen Airport were either canceled or diverted to other airports due to reduced visibility.
Fog lowers visibility across the city
As temperatures dropped overnight, dense fog settled over various parts of the city. On the Asian side, fog was especially noticeable around Camlica Hill, the Bosphorus shoreline, and forested areas in Umraniye, Uskudar, Cekmekoy, and Beykoz. It also blanketed Basibuyuk Hill in Maltepe, as well as Kartal and Aydos Hill.
In European districts, elevated areas in Sariyer, Sultangazi, and Beylikduzu were covered in fog. Key roads such as Ataturk Boulevard along Eski Edirne Road, and routes linking Habipler to Mahmutbey, Arnavutkoy, Istanbul Airport, and the Northern Marmara Highway were also affected.
Flight cancellations and diversions
Due to low visibility, several flights attempting to land at Sabiha Gokcen were forced to enter holding patterns. A total of 29 planes, approaching fuel-critical levels, were redirected to Istanbul Airport and Ankara Esenboga Airport. Departures were also delayed.
After nearly five hours of disruption, flight operations at Sabiha Gokcen began returning to normal around 8:30 a.m.
AJet issues statement
AJet spokesperson Mehmet Yesilkaya confirmed the situation in a post on social media.
“Due to heavy fog at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport, some of our inbound flights have been canceled or diverted to alternative airports.”
AJet spokesperson Mehmet Yesilkaya
Airport authorities are continuing to monitor conditions closely to ensure safety and minimize further disruptions.
