New Delhi: An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar faced a terrifying mid-air hailstorm on Wednesday evening, forcing an emergency declaration by the pilot. Despite the severe turbulence, the aircraft landed safely at Srinagar International Airport with all 227 passengers and crew unharmed, the airline confirmed.
Flight 6E 2142 encountered sudden and intense weather conditions near Srinagar. after which the pilot sought permission from Lahore Air Traffic Control (ATC) to briefly enter Pakistani airspace to avoid the turbulence. However, the request was denied, news agency PTI reported citing sources.
Aircraft flew into a hailstorm near Srinagar
As the aircraft continued on its original flight path, it flew into a hailstorm near Srinagar, leading to moments of panic among passengers. Videos shared on social media showed visibly shaken travellers praying and bracing as the plane swayed violently.
“It was a near-death experience. People were screaming and praying. Hats off to the pilot who brought us through that,” said Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose, who was onboard along with four other party leaders. “When we landed, we saw the nose of the plane had blown up,” she added.
IndiGo released an official statement following the incident: “IndiGo flight 6E 2142 from Delhi to Srinagar on May 21, 2025 navigated a sudden hailstorm and landed safely at Srinagar International Airport. All customers were attended to upon landing and no injuries were reported. The aircraft is currently undergoing necessary inspection and maintenance in Srinagar and will resume operations once all clearances have been secured.”
The airline also thanked passengers for their cooperation and emphasised that the safety of customers and crew remains its top priority. “We sincerely thank our customers for their cooperation in ensuring the safe completion of this flight. As always, the safety of our customers and crew remains our highest priority,” the statement read further.
DGCA orders probe
Meanwhile, aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a probe into the incident to assess adherence to protocol and the extent of weather-related damage to the aircraft. Preliminary reports suggest the aircraft’s nose cone and possibly other exterior sections sustained damage from the hailstorm.
Airport officials confirmed that the aircraft has been declared Aircraft on Ground (AOG) status, meaning it is currently unfit for flight operations until repairs and safety clearances are completed.
