Passengers aboard an IndiGo flight from New Delhi to Srinagar endured a harrowing experience on Wednesday night as the aircraft flew into a violent hailstorm, resulting in extreme turbulence and external damage. The incident occurred after both Indian and Pakistani authorities denied the pilots’ request to deviate into Pakistani airspace to avoid the storm.
Extreme Turbulence Hits Mid-Flight
The flight, en route to Srinagar, encountered the severe weather system near Pathankot in Punjab. At cruising altitude, the plane was battered by hail, triggering multiple system warnings and alarming passengers.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed the turbulence was caused by a storm that struck the Delhi-NCR region. “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,” PTI quoted the DGCA as saying.
Pakistan Airspace Request Denied
With no clearance from the Indian Air Force’s Northern Control, the pilots attempted to get permission from Lahore Air Traffic Control to briefly enter Pakistani airspace to bypass the dangerous weather. “Later, the crew contacted Lahore to enter into their airspace to avoid the weather but the same was refused too,” the DGCA added.
The refusal came against the backdrop of deteriorating India-Pakistan relations, which has kept Pakistani airspace closed to Indian carriers.
Pilots Opt to Continue to Srinagar
Faced with rejection from both sides, the crew briefly considered turning back to Delhi but ultimately chose to continue towards Srinagar, as they were already approaching storm clouds. The decision led the aircraft directly into a zone of heavy hail and turbulence.
According to the DGCA, the aircraft at one point went into a rapid descent of 8,500 feet per minute. Despite this, the crew managed to control the situation manually until they exited the hailstorm.
PAN-PAN Alert Issued
The intense conditions forced the crew to issue a PAN-PAN emergency call—a standard aviation alert signaling urgency but not immediate danger. “Crew flew the aircraft manually till they exited the hailstorm. After carrying out all checklist actions (ECAM actions), crew declared PAN PAN (urgency call) to Srinagar ATC and requested for RADAR vectors and made a safe landing with auto thrust operating normally,” the DGCA statement read.
Fortunately, all 220+ passengers were unharmed, although the aircraft’s nose radome sustained visible damage.
DGCA Probe Underway
With the incident raising serious concerns over in-flight safety and denied airspace access during emergencies, DGCA has initiated a detailed probe into the matter.
