Latest news with #6E-2142
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
DGCA grounds 2 IndiGo pilots of turbulent Delhi-Srinagar flight
India's aviation regulator grounded two pilots who operated an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar on Wednesday evening after it flew through severe hailstorm, officials said on Friday as new details emerged of their interaction with traffic controllers in Lahore and Srinagar amid what was a narrow escape for the 227 people on board. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revealed in a statement that the Airbus A321 Neo at one point plummeted at 8,500 feet per minute—more than four times the normal descent rate—as multiple flight control systems failed while trapped inside the storm, with pilots receiving simultaneous warnings of both stall (a condition in which an aircraft begins to lose altitude) and overspeed conditions as they fought to regain control. Details also emerged of how the pilots initiated contact with air traffic control in Pakistan after Indian controllers, bound by reciprocal airspace restrictions following recent military tensions, advised against deviating westwards but provided contact frequencies to coordinate directly with Lahore ATC, which denied the request despite the emergency. 'The matter is under investigation by the DGCA,' the regulator confirmed. 'As part of the investigations, the two pilots are grounded pending investigation,' a DGCA official said, asking not to be named. Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu acknowledged the gravity of the situation. 'We are looking into the incident, but in the meantime from the information that I have, I would like to appreciate the efforts of the pilots and the crew who have been very composed in the way they have handled even in that weather that the flight has gone through,' Naidu said. 'We are very thankful that no incident has happened and everyone is safe, but we are going to thoroughly investigate what has exactly happened,' he added. The incident, described by passengers as 'a near-death experience', unfolded on IndiGo flight 6E-2142, which departed Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport at approximately 4:55pm and managed to land in Srinagar at 6:25pm, according to Flightradar24 tracking data. The crisis began when the aircraft 'entered a hailstorm and severe turbulence near Pathankot' whilst 'cruising at FL360' (36,000 feet), according to the regulator's statement. Recognising the danger ahead, the pilots 'requested northern control (under the Indian Air Force) for deviation towards left (the international border) due to weather on the route, however it was not approved.' Growing increasingly desperate as the storm approached, the 'crew contacted Lahore to enter into their airspace to avoid the weather but the same was refused,' the DGCA stated, confirming the aircraft was denied entry to Pakistani airspace despite the developing emergency. The denials were rooted in the ongoing NOTAM issued by both sides against aircraft registered in the other country. According to a person aware of the matter in the defence ministry, the IAF control's denial was an advisory based on the Pakistani NOTAM, in place since the cross-border military operations earlier this month. 'Northern area control advised the Indigo crew within the frame of the NOTAM… and immediately assisted in coordinating their route diversion by contacting Delhi area and passing the requisite contact frequencies of Lahore control for an overflight weather diversion request,' this person explained. However, Lahore control, according to the DGCA, did not allow overflight permission, leaving the crew with no viable escape route. The 'crew initially attempted to return back but as they were close to the thunderstorm cloud, they decided to penetrate the weather,' the regulator stated. What followed was a cacophony of alarms and alerts for the pilots. 'While in thunder storm cloud, warnings of angle of attack fault, alternate law protection lost, backup speed scale unreliable were triggered. Due to updraft and down draft encountered by the aircraft the autopilot tripped and aircraft speed had wide variations,' the DGCA stated. In other words, several of the aircraft's computerised systems failed one by one, forcing the pilots to fly manually through violent turbulence without reliable instruments or the normal protections that prevent a modern airliner from stalling or exceeding its structural limits. At the height of the crisis, 'the aircraft rate of descent reached 8500 fpm,' the DGCA stated. 'Crew flew the aircraft manually till they exit the hailstorm.' For context, aircraft normally descend at 1,500 to 2,000 feet per minute. After regaining control, the crew declared emergency. 'After carrying out all check list actions, crew declared PAN PAN to Srinagar ATC and requested for radar vectors and made a safe landing with auto thrust operating normally,' the report stated. PAN PAN is an international urgency signal indicating serious difficulty requiring assistance, one level below a MAYDAY distress call. The DGCA confirmed no passengers were injured, though 'post flight walk around revealed damage to the nose radome'—impact damage visible as holes in the aircraft's nose structure. Aviation experts, while praising the crew's ultimate recovery, questioned the decisions that led to the crisis. An Airports Authority of India official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that the direct pilot-to-Lahore contact was highly unusual and indicated desperation. 'Though the pilots did a fantastic job by landing safely even in such massive turbulence, they should have avoided the situation.' Weather conditions that day were particularly severe, according to meteorological experts. Mahesh Palawat, vice president of climate and meteorology at Skymet Weather, explained: 'Thunder clouds are huge, high clouds. Since that day a lot of thunderstorm activity impacted northwest India, it's likely that the plane had to pass through one such cloud. The weather was suddenly more intense.' He emphasised that 'passing through such areas of thunderclouds and storms can cause intense turbulence causing damage to equipment and passengers.'
NDTV
23-05-2025
- Climate
- NDTV
"Immediately Assisted...": What Air Force Said On IndiGo's Mid-Air Scare
New Delhi: The IndiGo plane that encountered a violent hailstorm and severe turbulence en route from Delhi to Srinagar - leading to a terrifying 8,500-feet-per-minute descent, when the normal is no more than 3,000 - had been advised by the Air Force that Pakistan airspace was off limits. The advisory came after the pilots of 6E-2142 made emergency contact with the IAF's Northern Command, asking for permission for a flight path deviation to avoid the storm and turbulence. This would have taken the plane briefly into Pak airspace, which has been shut to all air traffic since May 11 and amid military tension over the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. In a statement issued Friday evening, the Air Force said the NOTAM, or Notice to Airmen, issued by Pak's civil aviation authority "was in vogue up to midnight on May 23" and that it specified that Pakistani airspace was "not available to Indian-registered aircraft and aircraft operated/owned/leased by Indian airlines/operators, including military flights". The IAF said its Northern Area Control accordingly "immediately assisted in coordinating (the IndiGo flight's) route diversion by contacting (air traffic controllers in the) Delhi Area and passing contact frequencies for Lahore (air traffic) control for overflight weather diversion request". Subsequently, the pilots contacted Lahore Air Traffic Control directly, seeking clearance to enter Pakistani airspace for a short period to avoid the storm. But this request was declined. READ | Pak Rejected IndiGo Flight's Airspace Request To Avoid Storm Then, faced with limited options and a fast-approaching thunderstorm, the pilots initially considered a return to Delhi. However, by then the aircraft was too close to the storm and, weighing proximity and potential hazards, they decided to push on through to Srinagar. "Once Lahore refused overflight clearance, and the aircraft proceeded towards Srinagar, the flight was subsequently professionally assisted till safe landing at Srinagar..." the IAF said. Once inside the thunderstorm, the aircraft experienced severe hail impact and violent turbulence. Several critical systems began flagging malfunctions. VIDEO | Passengers Scream As IndiGo Flight Hit By Turbulence, Aircraft Damaged The pilots, relying on their skills, kept the jet stable until it emerged from the clouds and continued toward Srinagar, on the same heading, to exit the storm in the shortest possible time. Upon stabilisation, the crew completed a checklist and declared an emergency, after which Srinagar Air Traffic Control guided the flight to a safe landing. After landing, a standard post-flight walk-around inspection revealed significant damage to the aircraft's nose. There were no injuries reported among passengers or crew. The DGCA has confirmed the incident is under formal investigation. Technical teams from IndiGo and the regulator are currently assessing both flight data and cockpit voice recordings.
India Today
23-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Turbulence-hit flight was guided till landing after Pak denied airspace: Air Force
The turbulence-hit IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar, carrying over 220 passengers, including Members of Parliament, was guided to a safe landing by Indian Air Force authorities on May 21, after it was denied emergency access to Pakistani airspace while navigating a severe hailstorm, Indian Air Force sources told India Today flight, 6E-2142, encountered heavy turbulence mid-air and sustained visible damage to its nose (radome) due to a sudden change in weather across North India on Wednesday response, the pilot requested a brief overflight through Pakistani airspace to avoid the rough weather. However, the request was rejected by Lahore Air Traffic Control. Indian Air Force sources confirmed the denial was in line with a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) — A0220/25 — issued by Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority, which prohibits Indian-registered civilian and military aircraft from entering Pakistani restriction, in place until May 23 midnight, is factored into standard route planning by Indian Area Control promptly advised the IndiGo crew in accordance with the NOTAM and initiated coordination with Delhi Area Control. The crew was also provided with Lahore control frequencies in case clearance could be secured for a weather-related diversion, sources Pakistani clearance refused, the flight altered its course towards Srinagar. From there, the Indian Air Force provided real-time assistance, including control vectors and groundspeed updates, to guide the aircraft through adverse conditions and ensure a safe mid-air emergency was declared on the flight after it was pummelled by a hailstorm while approaching Srinagar. The pilot alerted Air Traffic Control and managed a safe landing at 6:30 passengers and crew members were evacuated safely. However, the aircraft sustained significant damage to its nose, enough for the airline to declare it 'Aircraft on Ground' (AOG), grounding it for urgent Trinamool Congress leaders-Derek O'Brien, Nadimul Haque, Sagarika Ghose, Manas Bhunia, and Mamata Thakur-were on board the Watch
India Gazette
23-05-2025
- Climate
- India Gazette
Pakistan denied IndiGo flight, seeking safety from hailstrom, entry into its airspace: Crew to DGCA
New Delhi [India], May 23 (ANI): The Delhi-Srinagar IndiGo flight 6E 2142, which was caught in a sudden hailstorm near Pathankot on May 21, was denied entry into Pakistani airspace which was sought by the pilot to avoid turbulence. According to the crew's statement to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the pilot's request was dismissed by the Lahore Air Traffic Control. 'On 21.05.2025, Indigo A321 Neo aircraft VT-IMD operated flight 6E-2142 (Delhi -Srinagar). While cruising at FL360, aircraft entered hailstorm and severe turbulence near Pathankot. As per the crew statement, they requested Northern control (IAF) for deviation towards left (International Border) due to weather on the route; however, it was not approved,' the DGCA said. 'Later crew contacted Lahore to enter into their airspace to avoid the weather but the same was refused too,' it added. The DGCA said that the crew initially attempted to return, but as they were close to the thunderstorm cloud, they decided to penetrate the weather. 'Subsequently, they encountered a hailstorm and severe turbulence. Crew chose to continue at same heading to exit the weather by the shortest route towards Srinagar. While in thunderstorm cloud, warnings of Angle of Attack fault, Alternate Law protection lost, backup Speed scale unreliable were triggered,' DGCA said. It said that due to updraft and down draft encountered by the aircraft, the Autopilot tripped and the aircraft's speed had wide variations. 'As a result, Maximum Operating Speed/Maximum operating Mach (VMO/MMO) warnings and repeated stall warnings were triggered. During this period the aircraft rate of descent reached 8500 fpm crew flew the aircraft manually till they exit the hailstorm,' DGCA said. 'After carrying out all check list actions (ECAM actions), crew declared PAN PAN to Srinagar ATC and requested for RADAR vectors and made a safe landing with Auto Thrust operating normally. There was no injury to any of the passenger on-board the flight. Post flight walk around revealed damage to the Nose radome. The matter is under investigation by the DGCA,' it added. Earlier, IndiGo Airlines had a issued a statement after the incident, saying, 'IndiGo flight 6E 2142 operating from Delhi to Srinagar encountered sudden hailstorm en route. The flight and cabin crew followed established protocol and the aircraft landed safely in Srinagar. The airport team attended to the customers after arrival of the aircraft, prioritizing their wellbeing and comfort. The aircraft will be released post necessary inspection and maintenance' On Wednesday, rain and hailstorms lashed parts of the national capital. many domestic and international flights to Delhi airport were put on halt or diverted due to inclement weather conditions. (ANI)
News18
23-05-2025
- General
- News18
Chaos In The Sky: IndiGo Flight Plunges 8,500 Feet In A Minute As Pakistan Denies Airspace
Last Updated: Over 200 lives were put at risk due to Pakistan's denial of IndiGo's request to enter its airspace during a dangerous hailstorm on May 21, officials said. The Delhi-Srinagar IndiGo flight 6E-2142, which survived a threatening hailstorm midair on May 21, had first asked the northern air traffic control (managed by the Indian Air Force) for permission to turn towards Pakistan to escape bad weather. However, after permission was denied, the pilot then contacted Lahore, but the neighbouring country turned it down, putting the lives of all onboard at risk, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). When the pilot was left with no other option, he had to continue flying and successfully landed the aircraft in Srinagar. However, the flight, which carried over 220 people, including TMC MPs, suffered heavy damage on its nose due to the storm. While flying through the thunderstorm, the plane faced strong turbulence and was hit by powerful upward and downward air currents, known as 'updrafts and downdrafts." This caused the autopilot to switch off and led to sudden changes in the aircraft's speed. As the pilot carried on the onward journey, the aircraft's rate of descent reached 8,500 ft/min(feet per minute) and had to be flown manually till it exited the storm. The dangerous turn of events led to panic among passengers in the aircraft as they screamed and prayed for safety. Several videos showing the traumatic experiences of passengers surfaced on social media. Pakistan has shut its airspace for Indian flights. India closed its airspace for Pakistani carriers after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. What Happened Midair On May 21? According to the DGCA statement, the flight was at an altitude of nearly 36,000 feet near Punjab's Pathankot when it was struck by a hailstorm followed by severe turbulence. As trouble rose, the pilot first sought permission from the northern air traffic control to turn towards the international border – where tensions were at their peak during Operation Sindoor between May 7 and 10 – to avoid the storm. However, the request was denied. 'As per crew statement, they requested Northern control (IAF) for deviation towards left (International Border) due to weather on the route, however, it was not approved," the statement said. More to follow… First Published: May 23, 2025, 16:49 IST
