A Delhi-Srinagar IndiGo flight carrying over 220 people, including a high-profile delegation from the Trinamool Congress, encountered severe turbulence and a sudden hailstorm on May 21 after Pakistan denied a pilot’s urgent request to enter its airspace, sources told PTI.
The IndiGo pilot of flight 6E 2142 sought permission from Lahore Air Traffic Control to divert through Pakistani airspace in order to avoid the dangerous weather. The request, made while the plane was over Amritsar, was turned down by Pakistani authorities, reportedly due to heightened tensions between the two nations following the recent Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26.
With no alternative route granted, the aircraft continued on its original path and encountered intense turbulence. The flight eventually landed safely at Srinagar International Airport. According to IndiGo, all passengers were unharmed and the aircraft is now undergoing maintenance checks before returning to service.
Onboard the flight were five Trinamool Congress MPs — Derek O’Brien, Nadimul Haque, Sagarika Ghose, Manas Bhunia, and Mamata Thakur. Speaking after the incident, Ghose described the experience as “near-death,” recounting how terrified passengers screamed and prayed during the ordeal. “Hats off to the pilot who brought us through that. The nose of the plane had blown up,” she added.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, both India and Pakistan continue to restrict airspace access to each other’s carriers amid diplomatic strain.
