IndiGo pilot's plea to enter Pakistan airspace 'rejected' during turbulent flight
PTC Web Desk: A Delhi to Srinagar IndiGo flight faced intense turbulence after being caught in an unexpected hailstorm on Wednesday, prompting the pilot to request a temporary entry into Pakistani airspace—a plea that was denied by Lahore Air Traffic Control, sources said on Thursday.
The incident involving flight 6E 2142, which was carrying over 220 passengers, including five Members of Parliament from the Trinamool Congress, is currently under investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), according to sources familiar with the matter.
As per initial details, the pilot reported the emergency to Srinagar ATC after the aircraft encountered a severe hailstorm mid-flight. Although the situation created moments of panic among passengers, the plane landed safely at Srinagar International Airport the same day.
Sources revealed that the flight was overflying Amritsar when the pilot noticed adverse weather conditions and reached out to Lahore ATC to seek a brief deviation into Pakistani airspace to steer clear of the turbulence. However, the request was turned down, forcing the aircraft to continue on its original route, which exposed it to severe atmospheric instability.
This airspace restriction comes against the backdrop of heightened India-Pak tensions following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of at least 26 perrsons. As a retaliatory measure, both countries have restricted access to their respective airspaces for each other’s carriers, sources added.
IndiGo released a statement on Thursday confirming that its flight had encountered a hailstorm but landed safely. "All passengers were assisted upon arrival, and no injuries were reported. The aircraft is undergoing thorough inspection and maintenance in Srinagar and will return to service after receiving all necessary approvals," the airline stated.
IndiGo's 6E-2142 from Delhi to Srinagar caught in a severe hailstorm #aviation pic.twitter.com/Y4OHmmxSlh — Arindam Majumder (@ari_maj) May 21, 2025
Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose, who was aboard the flight, described the ordeal as a “near-death experience.” “It was terrifying. Passengers were screaming, praying, and fearing the worst,” Ghose shared. “The pilot’s calm under pressure saved us. When we landed, we saw the nose of the aircraft had been severely damaged.”
Dramatic videos captured by passengers during the turbulence later surfaced on social media, showing emotional scenes of panic and prayer as the aircraft shook violently.
- With inputs from agencies
