Refused by Lahore, IndiGo pilots decided to fly through storm: What went down

The IndiGo flight heading to Srinagar that faced intense turbulence first asked the northern air traffic control (ATC), managed by the Indian Air Force (IAF), for permission to divert towards Pakistan before reaching out to Lahore ATC to steer clear of the storm. According to a statement from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), both requests were rejected, compelling the pilot to maneuver through the hailstorm and land the plane (6E-2142) in Srinagar.

The flight from New Delhi to Srinagar, which had over 220 passengers, including TMC MPs, safely touched down at 6:30 pm on May 21, despite severe damage to the aircraft’s nose (radome). Dramatic footage circulating on social media depicts the A321 Neo aircraft violently shaking during the storm, which wreaked havoc in Delhi-NCR and Uttar Pradesh, causing more than 50 fatalities and numerous trees to be uprooted. Videos featuring passengers, including kids, screaming and weeping in terror have also become viral. The DGCA reported that the plane was flying at an altitude of about 36,000 feet close to Pathankot in Punjab when it encountered a thunderstorm and hailstorm.

Faced with extreme turbulence, the crew initially asked the northern ATC for permission to steer the flight toward the International Border, an area that had recently seen heightened hostilities between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Nevertheless, the appeal was rejected. The pilot subsequently requested authorization from the Lahore air traffic control (ATC) to temporarily enter Pakistani airspace to steer clear of the storm. However, it was declined as well.

The pilot first thought about going back to Delhi due to the few options available, according to the DGCA statement. Nevertheless, as the aircraft neared the “thunderstorm cloud,” going back became an unsafe choice. The pilot then opted to proceed straight through the storm towards Srinagar via the quickest route available. While flying through the thunderstorm, the plane faced “severe updrafts and downdrafts”, causing the autopilot to disconnect and its speed to vary.

“While in thunderstorm cloud, warnings of an angle of attack fault, alternate ;aw protection lost, and unreliable airspeed indications were triggered,” the statement said.

The DGCA reported that at a certain moment, the plane’s descent speed hit 8,500 feet per minute. It also mentioned that the crew assumed manual control of the aircraft during this crucial stage until they left the hailstorm. The pilot subsequently announced an emergency to the Srinagar ATC, which then initiated radar vectors. The flight ultimately arrived safely in Srinagar, and there were no reported injuries among the passengers or crew.

The DGCA stated that auto thrust systems operated normally throughout the landing. A comprehensive inquiry has been initiated regarding the incident.