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First Post
23-05-2025
- General
- First Post
How Indigo flight dropped 8,500 feet in a minute as Pakistan denied airspace
The IndiGo Delhi-Srinagar flight, which was caught in terrifying mid-air turbulence on Wednesday, was denied permission to enter the Pakistani airspace by both the Indian Air Force and Lahore ATC, putting over 200 lives in danger, pilots told the DGCA. The airspace between the two countries is closed following tensions over the Pahalgam attack read more As the pilots of The IndiGo Delhi to Srinagar flight battled extreme turbulence, they made a desperate request to reroute into Pakistani airspace to avoid the storm. However, the request was denied. Image courtesy: X, PTI It was supposed to be a regular flight from Delhi to Srinagar, until the skies turned hostile. Midway through the journey, IndiGo flight 6E-2142 flew straight into a violent hailstorm, shaking the aircraft and rattling passengers. As the pilots battled extreme turbulence, they made a desperate request to reroute into Pakistani airspace to avoid the storm. However, the answer from across the border was a 'no', as per the pilots' statement to India's aviation safety regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which is investigating the incident. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With no way around, flight crew decided to go through the inclement weather and continue flying to Srinagar, triggering a plunge of 8,500 feet per minute and unleashing panic inside the cabin. According to an initial report from the DGCA, the flight was carrying more than 220 passengers, including members of Parliament. Here's what really happened. Request to deviate rejected According to the crew's post-flight statement submitted to the DGCA, the flight was cruising at an altitude of nearly 36,000 feet when it ran into bad weather near Punjab's Pathankot, close to the India-Pakistan border. As conditions worsened, the pilot reached out to Northern Air Traffic Control, which is under the Indian Air Force (IAF), requesting a left deviation toward the international border to dodge the storm. But with military tensions still high following Operation Sindoor earlier in May, that request was turned down. '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 DGCA said. The Lahore ATC denied permission, despite the worsening weather and safety risk to over 220 passengers on board. AI-generated representative image. With few options left, the crew made a second request—this time to Lahore ATC, asking for emergency clearance into Pakistani airspace. That plea was denied too, despite the worsening weather and safety risk to over 220 passengers on board. '…Crew contacted Lahore to enter into their airspace to avoid the weather, but the same was refused too,' the report noted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Following the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan had already closed its airspace to Indian carriers from April 24, initially for a month. That ban was extended further to June 24, according to a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued by Pakistan's aviation authorities on Friday. With the storm now rapidly closing in, the pilots briefly considered turning back to Delhi. But by then, the aircraft was already too close to the approaching clouds. Weighing the proximity and potential hazards, the crew decided to penetrate the weather head-on to proceed toward Srinagar. The terrifying freefall Once inside the storm, things took a dramatic turn. The aircraft was tossed around by extreme turbulence and hit by strong vertical air currents—what pilots call 'updrafts' and 'downdrafts.' Preliminary findings from the DGCA reveal that the aircraft experienced an 'Angle of Attack' fault and lost alternate law protection—essential flight control features—because of the violent atmospheric conditions. In simple terms, the plane's automatic stability systems were overwhelmed and failed to respond. As the storm battered the aircraft, the autopilot system disengaged. The pilots had to take over manual control while dealing with erratic airspeed data, shaking controls, and a cockpit filled with warning alarms. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At one point, the aircraft plunged at a terrifying rate of 8,500 feet per minute—well above the normal descent rate of 1,500 to 3,000 feet during standard landings. Inside the cabin, panic broke out. Passengers were seen crying, screaming, and praying. Videos capturing those tense moments quickly went viral, showing the true scale of the fear and confusion onboard. 🚨SHOCKING: IndiGo flight✈️ 6E-2142 from Delhi to Srinagar hit by severe mid-air turbulence. Flight 6E-2142 was caught in a terrifying hailstorm just before landing in Srinagar, forcing an emergency landing around 6:30pm. Passengers report panic, falling luggage, and a… — Manobala Vijayabalan (@ManobalaV) May 21, 2025 Despite the chaos, the pilots managed to keep the aircraft steady and pushed through the storm on course toward Srinagar, making the quickest possible exit from the turbulent zone. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How did the plane land? Once the aircraft stabilised after the terrifying descent, the crew kicked into emergency protocol. They worked through the ECAM (Electronic Centralised Aircraft Monitoring) checklist to assess the damage and ensure the aircraft could continue flying safely. Recognising the seriousness of the situation, the pilots declared a 'PAN PAN', an international radio call used to signal urgency and request possible assistance. Srinagar Air Traffic Control (ATC) then took over, guiding the shaken flight through its final descent. Despite the earlier system faults and turbulence, the aircraft touched down safely in Srinagar without further complications. Once on the ground, a routine post-flight inspection was carried out. It revealed notable damage to the aircraft's nose, particularly the radome, the rounded tip of the plane that houses the weather radar and is especially vulnerable to hail and high-speed impacts. Thankfully, there were no injuries reported among passengers or crew. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a formal investigation into the mid-air emergency. Both IndiGo's technical team and regulatory experts are now analysing the plane's flight data and cockpit voice recordings to determine exactly what went wrong. With input from agencies
India.com
23-05-2025
- Climate
- India.com
Pakistan Refuses Assistance To IndiGo Flight Stuck In Hailstorm Danger
The pilots of the IndiGo plane, which was damaged in rough weather en route to Srinagar, were denied permission by the Lahore ATC to venture briefly into Pakistan airspace to escape the hailstorm, in complete violation of humanitarian norms. India's civil aviation regulator, the DGCA, said the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of approximately 36,000 feet near Punjab's Pathankot when it ran into a thunderstorm and hailstorm. Experiencing severe turbulence, the crew first requested the Northern ATC of the Indian Air Force to allow the flight to deviate towards the International Border. However, the request was denied because it was felt that the plane would face danger from the Pakistan side due to the recently witnessed intense hostilities between India and the neighbouring country during Operation Sindoor. The pilot then sought permission from the Lahore air traffic control (ATC) to briefly venture into Pakistani airspace to avoid the storm. But it was refused, too. With limited options left, the pilot initially considered returning to Delhi. However, since the aircraft was close to the "thunderstorm cloud", returning was considered an unsafe option. The pilot then decided to continue forward through the storm towards Srinagar on the shortest possible route, the DGCA statement said. While navigating the thunderstorm, the aircraft encountered "extreme updrafts and downdrafts", leading to the autopilot disengaging and its speed fluctuating. "While in the thunderstorm cloud, warnings of an angle of attack fault, alternate saw protection lost, and unreliable airspeed indications were triggered," the statement further said. The DGCA said that at one point, the aircraft's rate of descent reached 8,500 feet per minute. It further said that the crew took manual control of the aircraft during this critical phase till exiting the hailstorm. The pilot then declared an emergency to the Srinagar ATC, which then activated radar vectors. The flight eventually landed safely in Srinagar with no reported injuries to any of the passengers or crew. The DGCA said that the plane made a safe landing with the auto thrust system operated manually. There was no injury to any of the passengers on board the flight. A post-flight check revealed damage to the nose of the aircraft. A full-fledged investigation has been launched into the incident, the statement added.
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
To avoid hailstorm, IndiGo requested IAF, Lahore ATC for route deviation, both denied
IndiGo flight 6E 2142, carrying over 220 people, encountered hailstorm and turbulence on its way to Srinagar from Delhi. It requested the Indian Air Force Northern Control and later Lahore ATC for deviation towards the India-Pakistan border. Both requests were denied. The pilots landed safely in Srinagar, but the aircraft's nose suffered significant damage.
Hans India
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Hans India
IndiGo Flight to Srinagar Faces Severe Turbulence, Pakistan Denies Airspace Request
An IndiGo flight (6E2142) from Delhi to Srinagar experienced severe turbulence while in the air, a result of intense weather conditions on Wednesday evening. Northern states, including Delhi, were hit by heavy rain, strong winds, and hailstorms, which created chaos both on the ground and in the skies. The flight, carrying more than 200 passengers, got caught in the hailstorm while flying over Amritsar. Due to the turbulence, the front part of the aircraft was damaged. Sensing the danger, the pilot declared an emergency and contacted Air Traffic Control (ATC) for help. To avoid further risk, the pilot requested permission to enter Pakistani airspace as an emergency measure and contacted Lahore ATC. However, Lahore ATC rejected the request. According to reports released on Thursday, the rejection came as Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian airlines due to ongoing tensions between the two countries. This situation caused further concern, but the flight was eventually brought under control without any injuries reported.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Time of India
Pakistan refused to bail out IndiGo flight hit by sudden hailstorm
IndiGo flight 6E2142 from Delhi to Srinagar hit severe mid-air turbulence due to a hailstorm. The pilot declared an emergency before safely landing the plane. Visuals show nose damage. Passengers described panic onboard. All 227 people are safe. NEW DELHI: The pilot of IndiGo's Delhi-Srinagar flight on Wednesday requested permission from Lahore ATC to briefly enter Pakistan airspace to escape turbulence after being caught in a sudden hailstorm. Sources said Lahore ATC denied the request, prompting the Airbus A321 pilot to declare an emergency with Srinagar ATC. The flight, carrying over 220 passengers, including Trinamool MPs, landed safely in Srinagar, but not without damage - the aircraft's radome, or nose cone, was left badly battered by the storm. A senior official from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said, "We've asked IndiGo for a detailed report and a probe is underway. The aircraft (VT-IMD) remains grounded in Srinagar. The pilots are being praised for their presence of mind and professionalism in ensuring everyone's safety." IndiGo, in an official statement, said: "Flight 6E 2142 from Delhi to Srinagar on May 21 encountered a sudden hailstorm and landed safely at Srinagar International Airport. All passengers were well attended to upon landing and no injuries were reported. The aircraft is undergoing inspection and maintenance, and will resume service once it receives the necessary clearances." Although Pakistan airspace is shut for Indian carriers, aviation experts argue that emergency requests like the one made by the IndiGo pilot should not be refused in the interest of passenger safety.
