NEW DELHI: The pilot operating IndiGo ’s Delhi-Srinagar flight on Wednesday had sought Lahore air traffic control (ATC) permission to briefly venture into Pakistan airspace to avoid turbulence after encountering a sudden hailstorm.
People in the know say Lahore ATC denied this permission and pilot flying the Airbus A321 with 220 people on board declared emergency to Srinagar ATC. The aircraft with over 220 people on board, including Trinamool Congress MPs, finally landed safely in Srinagar but with its radome or nose cone badly damaged in the hailstorm.
A senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official said, “We have sought details from IndiGo” and a probe is on. The aircraft (VT-IMD) is now grounded in Srinagar. The pilots are being widely applauded for handling the situation well and ensuring everyone’s safety.
In a statement, the airline said: “IndiGo flight 6E 2142 from Delhi to Srinagar on May 21, 2025, navigated a sudden hailstorm and landed safely at Srinagar International Airport. 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. We sincerely thank our customers for their cooperation in ensuring the safe completion of this flight. As always, the safety of our customers and crew remains our highest priority.”
The plane had taken off from Delhi at 5 pm on Wednesday and landed in Srinagar safely at 6.46 pm. While Pakistan airspace remains closed for Indian aircraft, in emergency circumstances such permission as sought by the IndiGo pilot should not have been denied for a commercial airline due to safety reasons, say multiple senior pilots.
People in the know say Lahore ATC denied this permission and pilot flying the Airbus A321 with 220 people on board declared emergency to Srinagar ATC. The aircraft with over 220 people on board, including Trinamool Congress MPs, finally landed safely in Srinagar but with its radome or nose cone badly damaged in the hailstorm.
A senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official said, “We have sought details from IndiGo” and a probe is on. The aircraft (VT-IMD) is now grounded in Srinagar. The pilots are being widely applauded for handling the situation well and ensuring everyone’s safety.
In a statement, the airline said: “IndiGo flight 6E 2142 from Delhi to Srinagar on May 21, 2025, navigated a sudden hailstorm and landed safely at Srinagar International Airport. 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. We sincerely thank our customers for their cooperation in ensuring the safe completion of this flight. As always, the safety of our customers and crew remains our highest priority.”
The plane had taken off from Delhi at 5 pm on Wednesday and landed in Srinagar safely at 6.46 pm. While Pakistan airspace remains closed for Indian aircraft, in emergency circumstances such permission as sought by the IndiGo pilot should not have been denied for a commercial airline due to safety reasons, say multiple senior pilots.
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