Fewer domestic diversions overall, yet wind diversions jumped from 51 to 93: why 1,054 flights turned away in 5 years
TripX Verified · 2 sources · checked 2026-11-01Key points
- Last year domestic diversions fell from 191 to 176, but wind diversions rose from 51 to 93, up 82.4%.
- Of 1,054 diversions by Korean airlines in 2021 to 2025, 705 (66.9%) were weather-related; for international flights poor visibility such as fog was the top cause.
- 198 flights had diverted by October 21 this year, so check your arrival airport's weather and airline alerts before you leave.
In this guide
On January 10 this year, a flight from Gimpo to Gimhae could not land at Gimhae and headed to Jeju instead. Back at Gimhae, it had to climb away once more just before touchdown, and its 197 passengers arrived 2 hours 40 minutes late.
The cause was not a fault but the wind. Last year total domestic diversions fell from 191 to 176, yet domestic flights diverted because of strong winds at the destination rose from 51 to 93, up 82.4%. More than 1 in 2 domestic diversions was caused by wind.
This article is based on November 1 reports (Maeil Shinmun and Sports Seoul) on data lawmaker Hwang Hee's office obtained from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. It covers the 14 airports run by Korea Airports Corporation, so Incheon International Airport is not included.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 5 years (2021 to 2025) | 1,054 diversions · 705 weather-related (66.9%) |
| Domestic last year | 176 diversions · 93 due to wind (52.8%) |
| Wind diversions | 51 in 2024 → 93 last year (up 82.4%) |
| International last year | 69 diversions · 30 poor visibility (43.5%) |
| This year (to October 21) | 198 diversions · 82 due to wind |
| Coverage | 14 Korea Airports Corporation airports (Incheon excluded) |
1,054 diversions in 5 years, 2 in 3 due to weather
From 2021 to 2025, Korean airlines had 1,054 diversions (821 domestic, 233 international), and 705 of them (66.9%) were caused by bad weather such as strong wind or fog.
By year: 131 in 2021, 114 in 2022, 286 in 2023, 278 in 2024 and 245 in 2025. The peak was 2023 and numbers have fallen for 2 years, but weather caused 173 (70.6%) of last year's 245 diversions, 22.0 percentage points higher than 48.6% in 2024.
Domestic: wind. International: fog
Wind's share of domestic diversions last year was 52.8%, about double the 26.7% of 2024. Counting all bad weather including wind, domestic diversions rose from 85 to 120, up 41.2%.
International flights had different causes. Of 69 international diversions last year, poor visibility at the destination was the top reason with 30 (43.5%), followed by wind 12, snow 8 and typhoons 3.
Still happening this year: 198 by October 21
Up to October 21 this year, 198 flights diverted (132 domestic, 66 international); 130 (65.7%) were weather-related and 82 were due to strong wind.
Weather is not the only cause. On October 15, Korean Air KE2093 from Gimhae to Da Nang returned to Gimhae after an engine-system warning, and its 146 passengers left again on a replacement aircraft about 6 hours later.
How to read the airline figures
Over 5 years, diversions were highest at Jeju Air (189), followed by Jin Air (155), T'way Air (153), Korean Air (147) and Asiana Airlines (132).
The reports also noted that airlines differ in fleet size, routes and the share of weather-sensitive routes, so counts alone are not a fair safety comparison. Diversions are a safety measure, but they leave passengers with long waits, disrupted plans and extra travel. Hwang Hee said the ministry should set up manuals for alternative transport and passenger support by airport and situation. As of the check date, no new rule has been announced.
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Frequently asked questions
Why do planes divert to another airport instead of the destination?
Mostly weather. Of 1,054 diversions in 5 years, 705 were due to bad weather; wind for domestic flights and poor visibility such as fog for international ones.
How long are you delayed by a diversion?
It varies. The reported January 10 Gimpo to Gimhae flight arrived 2 hours 40 minutes late, and the October 15 Gimhae to Da Nang flight left again about 6 hours later.
Are airlines with more diversions less safe?
Counts alone cannot tell you that. The reports noted airlines differ in size, routes and weather-sensitive routes, so a simple comparison is not appropriate.
Sources
- Maeil Shinmun (Nov 1, 2026; on diversion data for Korean airlines that lawmaker Hwang Hee's office obtained from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, in Korean)
- Sports Seoul (Nov 1, 2026; on 1,054 diversions at 14 Korean airports over 5 years, in Korean)
Checked on
This guide is Global TripX’s summary of the information published in the sources above. It is not a first-hand review, and rules and schedules can change, so check official guidance again before you travel.
TripX Verified: the date we matched the facts in this guide against the original sources below. Rules can change.
