IndiGo Flight Faced Turbulent Journey Amidst Hailstorm

An IndiGo flight traveling from Delhi to Srinagar encountered severe turbulence and hailstorm on Wednesday, prompting the pilots to request route deviations from both the Indian Air Force and Pakistani air traffic control. Unfortunately, both requests were denied.

Denied Requests and Difficult Choices

According to the pilots’ statement to India’s aviation safety regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft entered a hailstorm and severe turbulence near Pathankot while cruising at 36,000 feet. They initially requested a deviation towards the India-Pakistan border to avoid the weather, but the Indian Air Force Northern Control denied the request.

The pilots then attempted to contact Lahore air traffic control to briefly enter Pakistani airspace, hoping to bypass the storm. This request was also refused due to the ongoing airspace closure between India and Pakistan.

Faced with these denials, the pilots decided to penetrate the weather and navigate through the storm. They experienced significant speed variations and rapid altitude changes, prompting various technical warnings, including warnings for “angle of attack fault, alternate law protection lost, and backup speed scale unreliable.”

Safe Landing Despite Challenges

Despite the turbulent conditions, the pilots expertly maneuvered the aircraft manually, ultimately exiting the hailstorm and safely landing at Srinagar airport. The aircraft, an Airbus A321neo with over 220 passengers, including a five-member Trinamool Congress delegation, sustained visible damage to its nose, which houses the radome, the protective fairing for the plane’s radar antenna.

IAF’s Response and Ongoing Investigation

The Indian Air Force stated that they assisted the pilots by coordinating their route diversion and providing necessary contact frequencies with Lahore control. They emphasized that the advice given to the pilots was within the framework of the airspace closure.

The DGCA is currently investigating the incident. IndiGo has confirmed that the aircraft is undergoing inspection and maintenance in Srinagar and will resume operations once cleared.