DGCA grounds 2 IndiGo pilots of turbulent Delhi-Srinagar flight
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Diverging Reports Breakdown
DGCA grounds 2 IndiGo pilots of turbulent Delhi-Srinagar flight
India’s aviation regulator grounded two pilots who operated an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar on Wednesday evening after it flew through severe hailstorm, officials said on Friday. New details emerged of their interaction with traffic controllers in Lahore and Sringar amid what was a narrow escape for the 227 people on board. “We are very thankful that no incident has happened and everyone is safe, but we are going to thoroughly investigate what has exactly happened,” Ram Mohan Naidu said.“The matter is under investigation by the DGCA,’ the regulator confirmed. � “As part of the investigations, the two pilots are grounded pending investigation,�” a DGCA official said, asking not to be named. ”Growing increasingly desperate as the storm approached, the “crew contacted Lahore to enter into their airspace to avoid the weather but the same was refused.” “I would like to appreciate the efforts of the pilots and the crew who have been very composed in the way they have handled even in that weather that the flight has gone through”
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revealed in a statement that the Airbus A321 Neo at one point plummeted at 8,500 feet per minute—more than four times the normal descent rate—as multiple flight control systems failed while trapped inside the storm, with pilots receiving simultaneous warnings of both stall (a condition in which an aircraft begins to lose altitude) and overspeed conditions as they fought to regain control.
Details also emerged of how the pilots initiated contact with air traffic control in Pakistan after Indian controllers, bound by reciprocal airspace restrictions following recent military tensions, advised against deviating westwards but provided contact frequencies to coordinate directly with Lahore ATC, which denied the request despite the emergency.
“The matter is under investigation by the DGCA,” the regulator confirmed. “As part of the investigations, the two pilots are grounded pending investigation,” a DGCA official said, asking not to be named.
Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu acknowledged the gravity of the situation.
“We are looking into the incident, but in the meantime from the information that I have, I would like to appreciate the efforts of the pilots and the crew who have been very composed in the way they have handled even in that weather that the flight has gone through,” Naidu said.
“We are very thankful that no incident has happened and everyone is safe, but we are going to thoroughly investigate what has exactly happened,” he added.
The incident, described by passengers as “a near-death experience”, unfolded on IndiGo flight 6E-2142, which departed Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at approximately 4:55pm and managed to land in Srinagar at 6:25pm, according to Flightradar24 tracking data.
The crisis began when the aircraft “entered a hailstorm and severe turbulence near Pathankot” whilst “cruising at FL360” (36,000 feet), according to the regulator’s statement.
Recognising the danger ahead, the pilots “requested northern control (under the Indian Air Force) for deviation towards left (the international border) due to weather on the route, however it was not approved.”
Growing increasingly desperate as the storm approached, the “crew contacted Lahore to enter into their airspace to avoid the weather but the same was refused,” the DGCA stated, confirming the aircraft was denied entry to Pakistani airspace despite the developing emergency.
The denials were rooted in the ongoing NOTAM issued by both sides against aircraft registered in the other country. According to a person aware of the matter in the defence ministry, the IAF control’s denial was an advisory based on the Pakistani NOTAM, in place since the cross-border military operations earlier this month.
“Northern area control advised the Indigo crew within the frame of the NOTAM… and immediately assisted in coordinating their route diversion by contacting Delhi area and passing the requisite contact frequencies of Lahore control for an overflight weather diversion request,” this person explained.
However, Lahore control, according to the DGCA, did not allow overflight permission, leaving the crew with no viable escape route.
The “crew initially attempted to return back but as they were close to the thunderstorm cloud, they decided to penetrate the weather,” the regulator stated.
What followed was a cacophony of alarms and alerts for the pilots. “While in thunder storm cloud, warnings of angle of attack fault, alternate law protection lost, backup speed scale unreliable were triggered. Due to updraft and down draft encountered by the aircraft the autopilot tripped and aircraft speed had wide variations,” the DGCA stated.
In other words, several of the aircraft’s computerised systems failed one by one, forcing the pilots to fly manually through violent turbulence without reliable instruments or the normal protections that prevent a modern airliner from stalling or exceeding its structural limits.
At the height of the crisis, “the aircraft rate of descent reached 8500 fpm,” the DGCA stated. “Crew flew the aircraft manually till they exit the hailstorm.” For context, aircraft normally descend at 1,500 to 2,000 feet per minute.
After regaining control, the crew declared emergency. “After carrying out all check list actions, crew declared PAN PAN to Srinagar ATC and requested for radar vectors and made a safe landing with auto thrust operating normally,” the report stated.
PAN PAN is an international urgency signal indicating serious difficulty requiring assistance, one level below a MAYDAY distress call.
The DGCA confirmed no passengers were injured, though “post flight walk around revealed damage to the nose radome”—impact damage visible as holes in the aircraft’s nose structure.
Aviation experts, while praising the crew’s ultimate recovery, questioned the decisions that led to the crisis.
An Airports Authority of India official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that the direct pilot-to-Lahore contact was highly unusual and indicated desperation. “Though the pilots did a fantastic job by landing safely even in such massive turbulence, they should have avoided the situation.”
Weather conditions that day were particularly severe, according to meteorological experts. Mahesh Palawat, vice president of climate and meteorology at Skymet Weather, explained: “Thunder clouds are huge, high clouds. Since that day a lot of thunderstorm activity impacted northwest India, it’s likely that the plane had to pass through one such cloud. The weather was suddenly more intense.”
He emphasised that “passing through such areas of thunderclouds and storms can cause intense turbulence causing damage to equipment and passengers.”
DGCA grounds 2 IndiGo pilots of turbulence-hit Delhi-Srinagar flight
DGCA grounds 2 IndiGo pilots of turbulence-hit Delhi-Srinagar flight. Airbus A321 Neo at one point plummeted at 8,500 feet per minute. This was more than 4 times the normal descent rate. Pilots contacted Pakistan ATC after Indian air traffic controllers advised the pilots to not fly westwards. But they also asked the 2 pilots to control Lahore ATC directly. The neighbouring country however denied the request. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said, “We are looking into the incident, but in the meantime from the information that I have, I would like to appreciate the efforts of the pilots and the crew who have been very composed in the way they have handled even in that weather that the flight has gone through” The plane had departed the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi at 4:55 PM and landed in Srinagar at 6:25 pm. The hailstorm struck the plane near Pathankot, when the plane was cruising at 36,000 feet.
The 2 pilots who were operating the Delhi- Srinagar IndiGo flight which was caught in severe turbulence on Wednesday will be grounded, the DGCA said. The aviation regulator is investigating the conduct of the pilots during the emergency, including their interaction with the Lahore ATC.
The front part of the IndiGo aircraft was badly damaged due to the hailstorm (Photo credit: PTI)
New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has grounded 2 pilots who operated the Delhi-Srinagar IndiGo flight which was caught in turbulence on Wednesday evening. The flight reportedly flew through a hailstorm. The suspension came as new details emerged regarding their interaction with air traffic controllers in Lahore and Srinagar amid the turbulence. There were 227 people on board the aircraft at the time.
Aircraft plummeted more than normal descent rate: DGCA
The DGCA in an internal probe found that Airbus A321 Neo at one point plummeted at 8,500 feet per minute, reported Hindustan Times. This was more than 4 times the normal descent rate. This happened because multiple flight control systems failed, even as pilots received a warning regarding a stall, which means a condition in which an aircraft begins to lose altitude and overspeed conditions as they fought to regain control.
There were also details about how the pilots approached the air traffic control in Pakistan, after the emergency. They contacted Pakistan ATC after Indian air traffic controllers bound by the recent air space restrictions over Pakistan, advised the pilots to not fly westwards. But they also asked the 2 pilots to control Lahore ATC directly. Contact frequencies were also made available to the pilots for the same. The neighbouring country however denied the request.
A DGCA official quoted by Hindustan Times said, “The matter is under investigation by the DGCA. As part of the investigation, the two pilots are grounded pending investigation.”
Talking abouut the seriousness of the issue, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said, “We are looking into the incident, but in the meantime from the information that I have, I would like to appreciate the efforts of the pilots and the crew who have been very composed in the way they have handled even in that weather that the flight has gone through.”
He also expressed gratitude towards the pilots and the crew that no untoward incident happened and all people onboard were safe. But he added that a thorough investigation will be conducted in the matter, to know exactly what happened.
Near-death experience: Passengers onboard IndiGo flight
Meanwhile passengers onboard the IndiGo flight, 6E-2142 which was caught in turbulence described the experience as “near death”. The plane had departed the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi at 4:55 PM and landed in Srinagar at 6:25 pm. The hailstorm struck the plane near Pathankot, when the plane was cruising at 36,000 feet.
Seeing the situation that they were in, the pilots requested the northern control, under the Indian Airforce, for permission to deviate towards the left, which is the international border. The permission was immediately denied. The desperate crew then contacted Lahore ATC to enter their airspace, but their request was once again turned down.
The denial was due to a NOTAM issued by both India and Pakistan for aircraft registered in the other country.The IAF denied permission to deviate westward due to the NOTAM in place, and was a kind of an advisory given the volatile political and military situation experienced at the border recently.
The crew initially tried to return to Delhi, but when that failed, they decided to penetrate the weather, said DGCA. They were flying close to the thunderstorm cloud. The DGCA stated, “While in thunder storm cloud, warnings of angle of attack fault, alternate law protection lost, backup speed scale unreliable were triggered. Due to updraft and down draft encountered by the aircraft the autopilot tripped and aircraft speed had wide variations.”
Put simply, several of the aircraft’s computerised systems failed, which forced the pilots to fly manually through violent turbulence. They also did not have the reliable instruments or the normal protections that prevent a modern airliner from stalling or exceeding its structural limits. The crew flew the aircraft manually till they exited the hailstorm. The flight descended at a speed of 8500 feet per minute, whereas the normal descent is 1,500 to 2,000 feet per minute, said DGCA.
After exiting the hailstorm, and regaining control of the plane, the pilots declared emergency. The aircraft then declared PAN PAN to Srinagar ATC and requested radar vectors be activated. They finally managed to land safely with the auto thrust operating normally.
PANPAN call is an international urgency signal indicating serious difficulty requiring assistance, and is one level below MAYDAY distress call. No passenger was injured post the turbulence but the aircraft’s nose was damaged.
Click for more latest India news. Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9.
Mani Raj Mani Raj is a Chief Sub Editor at News9 Live. She writes on politics and international affairs and has an experience of more than 7 years in journalism. Previously, she has worked with the Times of India online team for over 4 years. She also has a strong interest in stories related to crime and women issues. In her seven-year-long career she has covered more than 5 state elections and 1 Lok Sabha Election. Hailing from Bihar, she has keen interest in politics of the state and has had the opportunity to do ground reporting in the state. She writes her stories after checking all facts and believes in delivering the best possible work for the readers. When not at work, she prefers reading and watching movies. She can be reached at mani.raj@tv9.com Read More
Srinagar-bound Indigo flight wanted to fly over Pakistan to skirt storm, denied permission
Indigo flight 6E-2142 was flying just north of Pathankot in Punjab. The pilots contacted the IAF’s Northern Area Control at Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, requesting permission to divert approximately 180 km west into Pakistan to skirt around the approaching storm. The IAF refused permission, citing that the authority to approve a route change lay with the air traffic controllers at New Delhi. The Indigo crew was also advised about a notice to airmen issued by Pakistan last month, barring Indian-owned airliners from overflying Pakistan. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a probe to investigate.
Advertisement
The incident began when Indigo flight 6E-2142 was flying just north of Pathankot in Punjab. The pilots contacted the IAF’s Northern Area Control at Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, requesting permission to divert approximately 180 km west into Pakistan to skirt around the approaching storm. However, the IAF team at Udhampur refused permission, citing that the authority to approve a route change lay with the air traffic controllers at New Delhi. The Indigo crew was also advised about a notice to airmen (NOTAM) issued by Pakistan last month, barring Indian-owned airliners from overflying Pakistan.
Advertisement
According to sources, the passenger flight’s crew was assisted in coordinating their route diversion by contacting Delhi Area Control and obtaining the requisite contact frequencies for Lahore Control to request overflight clearance for weather diversion. However, Lahore ATC refused overflight clearance, and the aircraft proceeded towards Srinagar.
The Indigo flight, an Airbus A321 Neo, is equipped with a built-in Doppler weather radar. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a probe to investigate why the pilots chose to fly into the hailstorm instead of diverting to Amritsar or Pathankot after being refused permission to fly westwards.
Advertisement
Once the aircraft entered the hailstorm, the pilots faced a potentially life-threatening situation, encountering severe turbulence and huge variations in airspeed. The plane descended at 8,500 ft per minute at one point, exceeding the typical 1,500–2,000 ft per minute for a standard approach.
The on-board sensors indicating speed and altitude, both crucial for landing, were not functioning. This is known in aviation parlance as the ‘angle of attack’ sensor, which likely failed due to hail or ice, resulting in speed and altitude errors. The Airbus A321’s fly-by-wire system has a backup that requires direct control from the pilots.
Due to poor visibility, the IAF ground controllers at Srinagar used high-tech radar capable of tracking the speed and altitude of aircraft. The Indigo pilots were provided with readings of their speed and altitude, enabling them to land safely. Fortunately, the passengers had a narrow escape, and although the nose of the plane was damaged due to the hailstorm, a potential disaster was averted.
“We have maintained status quo”: Civil Aviation Minister Naidu after India extends airspace ban on Pakistan flights
India extended the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting its airspace for Pakistani aircraft and airlines till June 23. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on Friday that the government has “maintained the status quo’ on the matter. Separately, on the revocation of security clearance to Turkish firm Celebi Airport Services, he assured that airport operations across the country remain unaffected. Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported that IndiGo’s Delhi-Srinagar flight was caught in a sudden hailstorm near Pathankot on May 21, which was sought by the pilot to avoid turbulence.
Naidu said the government has simply maintained the existing status. “The NOTAM has been extended. We have maintained the status quo…” he told reporters.
This comes amid heightened security considerations and recent incidents involving Pakistani airspace.
Separately, on the revocation of security clearance to Turkish firm Celebi Airport Services, the Civil Aviation Minister assured that airport operations across the country remain unaffected.
“For the time being, on grounds of national security, we’ve removed the Turkish players from ground handling services, cargo services…we are not seeing any problem in the operations. We are going to take guidance from the security agencies in this regard…” he said.
Celebi was responsible for handling about 70 per cent of ground operations at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, including passenger handling, load control, cargo services, postal services, warehouse management, and bridge operations. It also operated at multiple airports across India.
Earlier in the day, India announced the extension of the ban on closure of its airspace for Pakistani aircraft till June 23.
India has extended NOTAM for Pakistan flights for one month, which will be in effect till June 23, 2025.
The Ministry stated, “Indian airspace is not approved for ACFTs registered in Pakistan and ACFTs operated/owned or leased by Pakistani airlines/operators, including military flights.”
Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported that IndiGo’s Delhi-Srinagar flight (6E 2142), which was caught in a sudden hailstorm near Pathankot on May 21, was denied entry into Pakistani airspace, which was sought by the pilot to avoid turbulence.
According to the crew’s statement to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the pilot’s request was dismissed by the Lahore Air Traffic Control.
“On 21.05.2025, Indigo A321 Neo aircraft VT-IMD operated flight 6E-2142 (Delhi -Srinagar). While cruising at FL360, aircraft entered hailstorm and severe turbulence near Pathankot. As per the crew statement, they requested Northern control (IAF) for deviation towards left (International Border) due to weather on the route; however, it was not approved,” the DGCA said.”
Later, the crew contacted Lahore to enter their airspace to avoid the weather, but the same was refused too,” it added.
Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/dgca-grounds-indigo-pilots-of-turbulent-delhi-srinagar-flight-101748028482695.html