Latest news with #SrinagarInternationalAirport
Time of India
5 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Why Delhi-Srinagar IndiGo flight couldn't turn back from the storm: Flying Beast Gaurav Taneja explains the tricky call
A recent IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar flew through a severe hailstorm after being denied entry into Pakistani airspace. Aviation YouTuber and former pilot Gaurav Taneja, known as Flying Beast, analysed the incident and pointed out a key error that may have prevented an emergency clearance. He explained how flight protocols, airspace control, and radar limitations compounded the issue, leaving pilots with limited options. His analysis raises serious questions about weather forecasting, pilot training, and regional airspace coordination. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What went wrong in the air? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 'Laal rang radar pe dikhe, usme kabhi mat jaana' Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads No room to turn back Historic Parallel: The case of IC 814 in 1999 Calls for rethinking airline policies An IndiGo flight travelling from Delhi to Srinagar on 27 May was forced to fly through a dangerous hailstorm after Pakistan refused its request to enter its airspace. The flight, numbered 6E2142, eventually made an emergency landing at Srinagar International Airport at 6:30 pm. All 227 passengers and crew onboard were reported aircraft has since been marked as 'Aircraft on Ground' due to the damage caused by the storm and is undergoing inspection and repair in to the airline, 'All customers were attended to upon landing and no injuries were reported. The aircraft is currently undergoing necessary inspection and maintenance in Srinagar and will resume operations once all clearances have been secured.'The incident has sparked renewed debate about flight safety procedures during extreme weather, especially in areas close to sensitive commercial pilot and aviation YouTuber Gaurav Taneja, known online as Flying Beast, offered a detailed analysis of the incident in a recent video. He said the pilots attempted to reroute due to worsening weather but were denied access to Pakistani airspace. According to him, a key mistake may have influenced that decision.'From the information we have till now, the pilots didn't declare an emergency; had they done so, Pakistan would've had to allow them into their airspace. Nobody has declared an emergency due to weather,' Taneja of issuing a full MAYDAY alert, which signals a life-threatening emergency, the crew declared a lower-grade distress signal—PAN PAN. This call indicates urgency, but not an immediate danger to pointed out that the airspace near Pathankot is controlled by the Indian Air Force's Northern Control. The pilots communicated their weather concerns, but were advised to reach out to Delhi Air Traffic Control, which in turn would contact Lahore.'Because Lahore is a civil airport, Northern Command couldn't contact them. The aircraft must've gotten in touch with Lahore in a couple of minutes, Lahore must've gone up the chain to ask for permission to allow the aircraft into Pakistani airspace. The permission was denied,' Taneja didn't hold back when questioning why the aircraft had been dispatched at all. He blamed both poor judgement and systemic issues. 'Pilots are told that if there is bad weather ahead, at no cost can they penetrate that weather,' he said.'On day one, pilots are told, 'Bhai, laal rang radar pe dikhe, usme kabhi mat jaana',' he added, referring to the radar's red zones that indicate highly dangerous amber zones, he said, should be sidestepped. Green zones are safer but not ideal. Airbus recommends staying 20 nautical miles clear of any active storm. Though flying above the storm is theoretically possible, Taneja dismissed it as impractical due to fuel constraints, time, and air traffic radar in use, he said, might have missed key weather signals. 'Older radar systems don't have the capability of registering ice particles, snow, sandstorms, and dry hail. And this is likely what happened with the Delhi-Srinagar flight.'The pilots had few good options. 'It doesn't make sense to take a right turn, because you'd hit the Himalayas. It would be like out of the frying pan and into the fire,' said Taneja. Turning back was technically possible, but practically difficult.'In my experience, an aircraft returns to base only in the event of a technical fault, either in the landing gear, or the hydraulics, or the electricals,' he said. 'You might think that this would've been the easiest thing to do, but let me tell you what goes on.'Climbing above the weather wasn't viable either. 'It isn't recommended to climb 6000 ft, because this consumes a lot of fuel and takes a lot of time. It can also disrupt traffic and make things difficult for the ATC,' he also stressed that pre-monsoon weather is more dangerous than monsoon season. 'This is when the weather is building.' In his view, the aircraft shouldn't have been dispatched in the first place. 'The meteorological department should've warned Delhi in advance.'He said that pilots often avoid turning back unless there's a major technical fault. 'In my experience, an aircraft returns to base only in the event of a technical fault, either in the landing gear, or the hydraulics, or the electricals.'The refusal by Pakistan to grant airspace access echoes past incidents. In 1999, the hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC 814 was initially denied entry into Lahore despite running low on fuel. Eventually, when Pakistani authorities realised the aircraft might crash in a populated area, they allowed it to land with just minutes of fuel Devi Sharan later recounted the episode to CNN: 'In the meantime, (Pakistani airport officials) came to know we have to crash this airplane. Then they gave me runway (clearance) … I had about one and half minutes of fuel left so luckily I landed on the runway.'Such decisions, Taneja said, can save lives—but only if procedures are followed. 'The aircraft was at the threshold of the bad weather, and there was no turning back,' he has been consistent in calling for stricter weather evaluation before dispatching flights. He questioned why India's meteorological department didn't issue a timely warning.'The aircraft shouldn't have been dispatched in the first place,' he air travel increases and weather patterns grow more unpredictable, this incident has reignited conversations about policy reform and technological upgrades—particularly around radar systems and airspace coordination across sensitive passengers, the message is clear: weather is never just weather when flight routes run close to contested skies.
United News of India
28-05-2025
- Climate
- United News of India
Two flights cancelled at Srinagar airport due to bad weather
Srinagar, May 28 (UNI) Two flights were cancelled at Srinagar International Airport on Tuesday evening due to adverse weather conditions, officials said on Wednesday. According to airport officials, Indigo flight 6E6041 bound for Chandigarh (IXC) and flight 6E215 to Mumbai (BOM) were cancelled due to inclement weather in the Kashmir Valley. "Departure of two flights is cancelled due to bad weather at Srinagar," an official statement from the airport authorities said. Last week over 200 passengers of an IndiGo flight from New Delhi to Srinagar experienced an ordeal after the aircraft was caught in severe turbulence amid a heavy hailstorm. Meanwhile, gusty winds, intense rains, and a heavy hailstorm lashed parts of the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday evening, throwing normal life out of gear. One of the worst-hit areas was the border region of Karnah in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, where a cloudburst triggered flash floods and caused extensive damage. An independent weather forecaster said that between 4:45 pm and 5:45 pm, a sudden cloudburst accompanied by a severe hailstorm wreaked havoc at the 12MW Karnah Hydroelectric Project. The downpour led to a massive surge in runoff from surrounding upper reaches, which inundated the project site. A landslide along the hill slopes blocked the only access road to the power project, cutting off connectivity. UNI MJR ARN PRS
India Today
13-05-2025
- India Today
Hajj 2025 flights to resume from Srinagar airport: Check details here
Following a six-day suspension due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, flight operations at Srinagar International Airport recommenced on May 13, first incoming flight is anticipated to land on Tuesday afternoon, marking a significant step towards restoring normalcy in the a related development, officials have confirmed that Hajj 2025 flights will resume from Srinagar Airport on Wednesday, May The inaugural batch of 178 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir departed for Saudi Arabia on May subsequent flights scheduled between May 7 and May 12 were cancelled due to the airport's closure amid heightened Indo-Pak flights from Srinagar will restart on May 14 as per schedule. There will be three flights on May 14 and 15 as planned, while a new schedule will be announced for the seven flights that were cancelled.A total of 3,622 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir, along with 242 from Ladakh, are set to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage this International Airport was initially slated to operate 11 Hajj flights between May 4 and CONFERENCE WELCOMES FLIGHT RESUMPTIONThe National Conference (NC) has expressed appreciation for the resumption of Hajj flights from Srinagar suspension of flight operations at Srinagar Airport on May 7 was a direct consequence of India's 'Operation Sindoor,' targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied military action was in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.A ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan was subsequently brokered, leading to the reopening of airspace and resumption of flight ADVISORYPassengers are advised to stay updated with their respective airlines regarding flight schedules and any potential situation remains dynamic, and travellers should remain informed about developments that may affect their resumption of flight operations, particularly for Hajj pilgrims, signifies a positive step towards normalcy and provides relief to those embarking on this significant spiritual Watch
Mint
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
India-Pakistan Ceasefire: Hajj 2025 flights to resume from Srinagar airport tomorrow. Find full schedule here
India-Pakistan Ceasefire: Flight operations resumed at Srinagar International Airport from Today 13 May, six days after the airport was shut down due to escalating India-Pakistan conflict. The first flight is expected to land at Srinagar airport on Tuesday afternoon. Officials said Hajj 2025 flights will resume taking off from Srinagar airport on Wednesday, 14 May. The first batch of 178 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir left for Saudi Arabia on 4 May for the annual Hajj 2025 pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina cities of Saudi Arabia. Since then no flights could operate. As many as seven flights of the Hajj 2025 pilgrims scheduled to leave on 7 May and 12 May were cancelled. Haj flights from Srinagar will restart on 14 May as per schedule, Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, executive officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Haj Committee, told reporters in Srinagar. 'There will be three flights on 14, 15 May as per schedule while a new schedule will be announced for the seven flights which were cancelled,' Qureshi said. As many as 3,622 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir, and 242 pilgrims from Ladakh are performing the Haj pilgrimage. Srinagar International Airport was scheduled to operate 11 Hajj 2025 flights between 4 and 15 May. National Conference (NC) Chief Spokesperson and Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq welcomed the resumption of Hajj flights from Srinagar Airport. In a statement, he emphasised the urgent need to increase the number of flights to ensure that pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir can complete all Hajj rituals in a timely manner. The flight operations were suspended from Srinagar airport on 7 May after India targeted terror infrastructure at nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in Operation Sindoor. The Operation was launched in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. The decision to reopen airports and routes was taken after the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed that there were 'no activities' in the border areas in the night intervening Sunday and Monday. While most of these airports resumed operations some airlines, including Indigo and Air India cancelled flight operations from Srinagar and other airports on 13 May. Hajj is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities of Islam in Saudi Arabia. The pilgrimage is performed during a particular period that culminates with Eid-ul-Adha. India-Pakistan Ceasefire: This year, Hajj is expected to take place from June 4 to June 9, 2025, depending on the sighting of the moon, marking the beginning of Zil-Hajj, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. Pilgrims began their journey to Saudi Arabia from different cities from April end. This year, Hajj is expected to take place from June 4 to June 9, 2025, depending on the sighting of the moon, marking the beginning of Zil-Hajj, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. Pilgrims began their journey to Saudi Arabia from different cities from April end. There will be three flights on 14, 15 May as per schedule while a new schedule will be announced for the seven flights which were cancelled.
Hans India
12-05-2025
- Hans India
Hajj flights to be resumed from Srinagar airport on May 14
Hours after Srinagar international airport figured in the 32 airports of the country where NOTAM was revoked, authorities on Monday issued the revised schedule for departure of Hajj flights from Srinagar to Saudi Arabia. Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, CEO Hajj committee said in a directive that in supersession to his office notification dated: 10-05-2025, the Haj Chartered Flights have been resumed. 'Accordingly, the flight details alongwith the list of concerned pilgrims scheduled for 14th May, 2025 is hereby published for the information of concerned Haj pilgrims. 'Reporting time for the pilgrims at Haj House Srinagar as per their respective flight is notified. The pilgrims are advised to report on time at Haj House, Bemina Srinagar. It may be noted that only standard baggage without any banned item shall be accepted as check-in-luggage by the Airlines at Haj House, Srinagar," the directive said. An official statement said earlier today that Srinagar International Airport is among the 32 airports now reopening for civilian flights amid an "understanding" by India and Pakistan following four days of hostilities. 'Attention Flyers: reference notice issued for temporary closure of 32 Airports for civil Aircraft operations till 05:29 hrs of 15 May 2025. It is informed that these Airports are now available for civil Aircraft operations with immediate effect,' said a notification issued by the Corporate Communications Directorate, Airports Authority of India (AAI). 'It is recommended for travellers to check flight status directly with Airlines and monitor Airlines' websites for regular updates.' While Srinagar airport is a defence airport, the closure NOTAM has been revoked, and Srinagar Airport is ready to facilitate flight operations. After cessation of hostilities between the two countries, a modicum of peace has returned to the border areas along the 740-km-long Line of Control (LoC) and the 240-km-long International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir. Security forces have advised border residents that they should not hurry back to their homes as there are unexploded shells which are being defused. 'Once the unexploded shells are defused, the areas along the LoC and the IB would be safe for the return of the people living along the borders,' the security forces said. Official estimates said over 200 houses and shops have been destroyed in Uri, Kupwara, Bandipora, Poonch, Rajouri, Samba, Jammu and Kathua districts. There has been a calmness through the LoC and the IB in J&K, as also in neighbouring Punjab and elsewhere along the International Border between the two countries. Scores of civilians injured in indiscriminate mortar shelling by Pakistan are being treated in various hospitals in Jammu and Srinagar in addition to those with minor injuries being treated at various district hospitals across the union territory.
