An IndiGo domestic flight from Delhi to Srinagar encountered a serious in-flight emergency on Wednesday after flying into a violent hailstorm and experiencing severe turbulence. The aircraft, carrying over 220 passengers, including Members of Parliament, recorded a dramatic descent rate of 8,500 feet per minute, far above the standard descent rate.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Airbus A321neo operating as Flight 6E-2142 suffered multiple cockpit warnings and instrument failures during the storm, which unfolded near Pathankot, close to the India-Pakistan border.
Request for Airspace Deviation Denied
Facing an intense storm cell ahead, the flight crew initially requested a deviation from Indian Air Force’s Northern Control to enter Pakistani airspace temporarily for safety. The request was denied. A similar appeal to Lahore Air Traffic Control was also turned down.
With no safer detour available and limited time to respond, the pilots chose to fly directly through the storm instead of returning to Delhi.
Critical Failures and Extreme Turbulence
Once inside the storm, the aircraft was pelted by hail and buffeted by intense updrafts and downdrafts. The storm triggered multiple system faults, including an Angle of Attack (AoA) sensor error, autopilot disengagement, and a switch to Alternate Law mode, which reduces flight control protections in Airbus aircraft.
Amid unstable airspeed readings and multiple stall warnings, the pilots manually stabilized the aircraft. At one point, the plane dropped 8,500 feet per minute, well above the normal 1,500–3,000 feet per minute range.
Safe Landing in Srinagar
Despite the chaos, the flight continued on its route to Srinagar, where pilots declared a “PAN PAN” emergency signal and safely landed with assistance from Srinagar Air Traffic Control. After landing, a walk-around inspection revealed substantial damage to the aircraft’s nose cone (radome) due to hail impact.
No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Passengers Recount Frightening Ordeal
Among the passengers were five MPs from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), including Derek O’Brien and Sagarika Ghose, who described the incident as a “near-death experience.” “People were screaming, praying, panicking,” Ghose said. “Hats off to the pilot who brought us through.”
Footage from the cabin circulating on social media shows visibly distressed passengers bracing for impact.
Aircraft Under Investigation
IndiGo confirmed that the aircraft is now undergoing mandatory inspections and maintenance, and the DGCA has launched a formal investigation. Technical teams from IndiGo and DGCA are reviewing flight data and cockpit voice recordings.
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