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Apache Airflow Error:
AirflowSensorTimeout

What does this error mean?

Raised when sensor timeout is breached for sensors in reschedule mode. The sensor fails immediately and does not retry. This exception appears in Airflow task logs when the condition is triggered during DAG execution.

Common causes

  • 1The sensor did not detect the expected condition within the timeout period configured on the sensor.
  • 2The upstream system or file the sensor is polling was delayed beyond the allowed wait time.
  • 3The timeout value is too short for the typical arrival time of the expected condition.

How to fix it

  1. 1Increase the timeout parameter on the sensor to allow more time for the condition to be met.
  2. 2Investigate delays in the upstream system the sensor is polling.
  3. 3Consider switching the sensor to reschedule mode to avoid blocking a worker slot during long waits.

Frequently asked questions

Where does AirflowSensorTimeout appear in Airflow?

In the task instance log, accessible via the Airflow UI under the failed task's Log tab, or in your log aggregation system.

Does this exception trigger a DAG retry?

No — AirflowFailException and AirflowSensorTimeout skip remaining retries immediately.

Source · airflow.apache.org/docs/apache-airflow/stable/_api/airflow/exceptions/index.html

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