An IndiGo flight operating on the Delhi–Srinagar route with over 220 passengers, including five Trinamool Congress Members of Parliament, encountered severe mid-air turbulence on Wednesday due to a sudden hailstorm, prompting the pilot to declare an emergency. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated an investigation into the incident.
The flight, numbered 6E 2142, was flying over Amritsar when the pilot encountered rough weather and reportedly contacted Lahore Air Traffic Control (ATC) seeking temporary access to Pakistani airspace to avoid further turbulence. However, according to PTI, citing unnamed sources, the request was declined by the Pakistani authorities.
As a result, the aircraft continued on its designated flight path and entered a severe hailstorm, leading to chaos within the cabin. Multiple passengers were reportedly shaken by the ordeal.
Also read: TMC leaders call flight ordeal ‘near-death’, praise pilot
Aboard the flight was a five-member delegation from the Trinamool Congress, comprising Derek O'Brien, Nadimul Haque, Sagarika Ghose, Manas Bhunia and Mamata Thakur. Speaking to the media after landing, journalist and TMC candidate Sagarika Ghose recounted the harrowing experience.
“It was a near-death experience. I thought my life was over. People were screaming, praying, and panicking,” Ghose said on Wednesday. “Hats off to the pilot who brought us through that. When we landed, we saw the nose of the plane had blown up,” she added.
The pilot reported the emergency to Srinagar air traffic control, and the flight landed safely at its intended destination.
Following the incident, videos surfaced on social media showing visibly distressed passengers praying and crying as the aircraft rocked violently in the air. In a statement issued later in the evening, IndiGo confirmed the turbulence incident and assured passengers’ safety was prioritised.
“The flight and cabin crew followed established protocol, and the aircraft landed safely in Srinagar. The airport team attended to the customers after the arrival of the aircraft, prioritising their wellbeing and comfort. The aircraft will be released post necessary inspection and maintenance,” the airline stated.
This episode comes against the backdrop of heightened India–Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed at least 26 lives. In the aftermath, Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian carriers—a move reciprocated by India.
The DGCA will now assess whether all protocols were followed and whether the aircraft’s crew acted in accordance with aviation safety norms.
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