In a dramatic turn of events, a pilot faced a critical moment when their request to enter Pakistani airspace was denied by air traffic control, all in an effort to dodge severe turbulence. As the Indigo aircraft encountered challenges that triggered multiple warnings and caused notable damage, the skilled crew demonstrated remarkable composure and expertise. With determination and skill, they manually navigated through the tempest and successfully touched down in Srinagar. In the wake of this gripping incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a thorough investigation to uncover the details surrounding this extraordinary experience.
What Happened With Indigo’s Delhi-Srinagar Flight?
दिल्ली से श्रीनगर जा रही इंडिगो फ़्लाइट पर बिजली गिरी और वह टर्बुलेंस में फँस गई। इस दौरान प्लेन के भीतर का नज़ारा।#IndiGoFlight #IndiGo #India #TURBULENCE #PlanetFitness #FlightTurbulence #FLIGHT #lightning pic.twitter.com/nxa4YTPOMA
— SANJAY TRIPATHI (@sanjayjourno) May 22, 2025
On Wednesday, IndiGo‘s Neo aircraft, operating flight 6E 2142, faced a daunting encounter with a hailstorm and severe turbulence near Pathankot. In a troubling turn of events, reports revealed that the Lahore ATC denied the pilot’s urgent request to divert through Pakistan airspace to bypass the treacherous conditions.
IndiGo’s A321 Neo aircraft, carrying the registration VT-IMD, was operating flight 6E-2142 on the route from Delhi to Srinagar when it encountered an unexpected and severe hailstorm accompanied by turbulent conditions while cruising at an altitude of FL360 near the Pathankot region. As the crew navigated through the increasingly perilous weather, they promptly communicated with Northern Control (IAF), requesting permission to deviate to the left toward the International Border to safely bypass the hazardous conditions. However, despite the crew’s urgent plea for safety, their request was met with a denial, as reported by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), leaving them to continue through challenging weather conditions.
The flight, transporting more than 220 passengers, including Trinamool Congress MPs, faced a sudden and intense hailstorm. The pilot immediately declared an “emergency” to air traffic control at Srinagar airport. Thanks to the crew’s swift actions and professionalism, the flight landed safely on Wednesday, ensuring the safety of everyone on board.
A five-member delegation from the Trinamool Congress, consisting of Derek O’Brien, Nadimul Haque, Sagarika Ghose, Manas Bhunia, and Mamata Thakur, was present on the flight.
DGCA Investigates The IndiGo Incident
After diligently completing all necessary checklist actions, including the ECAM procedures, the crew confidently declared a PAN-PAN urgency to Srinagar ATC, effectively requesting radar vectors for a safe landing. They executed the landing flawlessly, with the Auto Thrust system operating smoothly, ensuring that all passengers remained unharmed throughout the incident. Following the flight, a meticulous walk-around inspection revealed damage to the nose radome. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation into the matter, as detailed in the report.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) clarified the situation by stating that inside the storm, the aircraft faced severe updrafts and downdrafts—vertical movements of air that created significant hazards. These conditions directly resulted in a cascade of critical system failures. The regulator confirmed that the aircraft’s autopilot was forcibly disconnected, which triggered alarms for unreliable speed, indications of stall conditions, and alerts for the loss of essential system protections.
While manoeuvring through a thunderstorm cloud, the aircraft’s regulator efficiently triggered several essential warnings, including an Angle of Attack fault, the loss of Alternate Law protection, and an unreliable backup speed scale. The statement confidently asserted,
“As the aircraft encountered powerful updrafts and downdrafts, the autopilot system was compelled to disengage, resulting in notable and rapid fluctuations in speed. This dynamic instability activated multiple warnings related to Maximum Operating Speed and Maximum Operating Mach (VMO/MMO), as well as repeated stall warnings, underscoring the demanding conditions faced during flight.”
The regulator concluded in its statement,
“There were no injuries reported among the passengers on board the flight. However, a post-flight walk-around inspection revealed damage to the nose of the aircraft.”
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