Delhi–Manchester IndiGo flight returns mid-air after sudden West Asia airspace restrictions
Flight 6E33, which was being operated with a Norse aircraft, had departed from Delhi early in the morning and was headed for the UK city
PTC Web Desk: An IndiGo flight bound for Manchester from New Delhi was forced to abandon its journey and return to the national capital after remaining airborne for nearly seven hours on Monday. The decision was taken following sudden restrictions on certain airspaces linked to the ongoing tensions in West Asia.
Flight 6E33, which was being operated with a Norse aircraft, had departed from Delhi early in the morning and was headed for the UK city. However, flight tracking platform Flightradar24 showed that the aircraft made a U-turn close to the Ethiopia–Eritrea border and started its return journey to Delhi.
The flight had resumed operations on the Delhi–Manchester sector recently, marking IndiGo’s first service on the route since February 26 after a brief gap. Under normal conditions, the long-haul journey typically takes about 11 hours.
Tracking data indicates that the aircraft had already travelled for around seven hours before the diversion. The route taken by the flight was already modified to avoid conflict-prone areas in West Asia. Instead of the usual path, the aircraft had taken a longer southern route over the Gulf of Aden and parts of Africa to bypass sensitive airspaces.
Despite avoiding the main conflict zones, the flight still had to return due to last-minute airspace closures affecting parts of the region.
In an official statement, an IndiGo spokesperson said the decision was taken keeping passenger safety in mind. The airline explained that rapidly changing conditions in and around the Middle East could lead to longer routes or unexpected diversions for some flights.
The airline confirmed that flight 6E33 operating from Delhi to Manchester had to return to its origin after fresh airspace restrictions were imposed.
IndiGo added that it is coordinating with relevant authorities to assess whether the journey can be resumed. The airline emphasised that the safety of passengers, crew members and the aircraft remains its top priority.
According to Flightradar24 data, the great-circle distance between Delhi and Manchester is approximately 6,829 km, though actual flight time can vary depending on routing and weather.
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated in recent weeks after joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28 reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The situation has since intensified, with Iran launching attacks on Israeli positions and US military bases in Gulf nations, while the allies continue to target Iranian installations.