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IndiGo Flight Faces Severe Mid-Air Emergency Amid Denied Airspace Request and Extreme Turbulence
An IndiGo flight en route from Delhi to Srinagar narrowly avoided disaster on Wednesday after it encountered a powerful thunderstorm and violent turbulence that caused the aircraft to descend at an alarming rate of 8,500 feet per minute. The emergency has prompted an ongoing investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Severe Weather and a Denied Diversion Request
Flight 6E-2142, operated by an Airbus A321neo, was cruising at 36,000 feet when it ran into dangerous weather conditions near Pathankot, close to the India-Pakistan border. With over 220 passengers on board—including a five-member delegation from the Trinamool Congress—the flight soon found itself trapped in a rapidly intensifying storm system.
The flight crew, after detecting significant storm activity ahead, requested permission from the Indian Air Force’s Northern Control to alter course to the left, which would have briefly taken them into Pakistani airspace. The request was denied. In a bid to avoid the storm, the pilots then contacted Lahore Air Traffic Control directly for emergency clearance, which was also refused.
With no viable escape route and the storm fast approaching, the crew faced a critical decision. Returning to Delhi was no longer a feasible option due to proximity to the storm. Ultimately, they opted to proceed through the thunderstorm in a bid to reach clearer skies en route to Srinagar.
Extreme Turbulence and System Failures
As the aircraft entered the storm system, it was battered by severe hail and turbulence. Several onboard systems began to malfunction due to the impact. According to DGCA’s preliminary report, the aircraft experienced an “Angle of Attack” (AoA) fault, a key sensor failure that resulted in the aircraft losing Alternate Law protections—a critical layer of automated flight stability in Airbus’ fly-by-wire systems.
The intense turbulence disengaged the autopilot, forcing the pilots to assume manual control of the aircraft. Compounding the situation were repeated stall warnings, unreliable airspeed readings (likely due to pitot tube blockages), and overspeed alerts. At one point, the aircraft entered a rapid descent, plunging at 8,500 feet per minute—far exceeding the normal descent range of 1,500 to 3,000 feet per minute.
Despite the barrage of warnings and degraded flight controls, the pilots maintained composure and navigated the aircraft manually through the storm, stabilizing it once out of the worst weather.
Emergency Declaration and Safe Landing
Following the incident, the flight crew declared a “PAN PAN” alert—an international code signaling an urgent but not immediately life-threatening situation. The aircraft continued toward Srinagar, where air traffic controllers assisted in guiding it safely through its final approach.
The aircraft landed without further incident in Srinagar. On landing, a standard post-flight inspection revealed significant hail damage to the aircraft’s nose cone, or radome, which protects sensitive weather radar systems.
IndiGo confirmed that the plane is undergoing mandatory maintenance and inspections before returning to service. The DGCA has launched a formal investigation, including analysis of flight data and cockpit voice recordings.
Inside the Cabin: Passengers React
Passengers aboard the flight, many of whom experienced intense fear during the event, later recounted the ordeal. TMC spokesperson Sagarika Ghose described it as a “near-death experience,” saying, “People were screaming, praying, panicking. Hats off to the pilot who brought us through.”
Video footage captured inside the cabin during the turbulence shows passengers visibly distressed, clinging to seats and praying as the aircraft shook violently.
Technical Explanation: What Went Wrong
Hail and ice damage to the aircraft’s Angle of Attack sensors likely caused the AoA fault, which led to the system switching from Normal Law to Alternate Law—removing critical protections like stall avoidance and automatic speed regulation. This transition required the pilots to fly the aircraft with fewer automated safeguards, relying heavily on manual skill.
Blocked pitot tubes are believed to have caused conflicting airspeed readings, which in turn triggered false stall and overspeed warnings. The chaotic combination of instrument failure, turbulent airflow, and degraded flight control laws created a high-stress environment requiring exceptional airmanship.
Looking Ahead: Safety and Accountability
The DGCA has emphasized that a full safety review is underway, including coordination with IndiGo’s technical teams. In a statement, the airline acknowledged the seriousness of the event and confirmed the aircraft will remain grounded until thorough evaluations are completed.
This near-miss raises critical questions about the preparedness of airspace coordination during emergencies and the risks associated with severe weather patterns becoming more frequent due to climate change.
Aviation experts note that while pilots are trained for such scenarios, the combination of denied airspace, adverse weather, and mechanical issues made this situation particularly dangerous. Nevertheless, the safe landing of the flight stands as a testament to the professionalism and resilience of the cockpit crew.
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