SOURCE ; NEW18
Last Updated:May 22, 2025, 22:06 IST
The incident of flight 6E 2142 encountering severe turbulence is being probed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation
Videos from inside the aircraft, now widely shared on social media, show a chaotic scene.
A Delhi to Srinagar IndiGo flight that encountered a severe hailstorm mid-air had requested permission to briefly enter Pakistani airspace to avoid turbulence, but the request was turned down by Lahore Air Traffic Control, PTI reported on Thursday, citing sources..
The flight, numbered 6E 2142, was carrying more than 220 people, including a five-member Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation, when it hit sudden and intense turbulence on Wednesday.
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The pilot, observing unstable weather conditions while flying near Amritsar, contacted Pakistani air traffic control to seek a deviation through its airspace for safety reasons. The request, however, was denied.
As a result, the aircraft continued on its original route and encountered a powerful hailstorm before landing safely in Srinagar. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is now investigating the incident.
The flight crew followed standard emergency procedures, and the plane was met by ground staff upon arrival. IndiGo, in a statement, confirmed that the flight landed safely and that necessary inspections would be carried out before the aircraft is cleared for further operations.
Among the passengers were TMC MPs Derek O’Brien, Nadimul Haque, Sagarika Ghose, Manas Bhunia, and Mamata Thakur. Describing the experience, Sagarika Ghose said, “It was a near-death experience. I thought my life was over. People were screaming, praying and panicking.”
She added that the nose of the aircraft was damaged in the storm and praised the pilot for his skill in landing the plane safely.
Videos from inside the aircraft, now widely shared on social media, show a chaotic scene with passengers visibly shaken — some crying, others praying — as the aircraft swayed violently during the turbulence. Overhead bins were seen rattling while passengers clung to their seats.
Indigo flight 6E-2142 from Delhi to Srinagar got caught in a severe hailstorm.The flight landed safely and all passangers are safe.
Hailstorm was so severe that it damaged the plane’s nose cone. pic.twitter.com/E0BioVa8tF
— Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) May 21, 2025
Due to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, New Delhi’s military response to the terror attack in Pahalgam, airspace restrictions between the two countries remain in effect. Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian carriers, and India has reciprocated by barring Pakistani airlines from using its airspace.
(With inputs from PTI)
- First Published:
May 22, 2025, 21:40 IST
