On Wednesday, an IndiGo flight traveling from Delhi to Srinagar experienced a sudden hailstorm, which led the pilot to declare an emergency to air traffic control at Srinagar. The flight carried over 220 people, including several Members of Parliament from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Fortunately, the aircraft landed safely at Srinagar and was subsequently grounded, according to officials.
Videos shared on social media captured the moments of turbulence, revealing panic among the passengers as they were heard making religious pleas while the plane swayed in the tumultuous weather. Several individuals reported that the nose of the aircraft sustained damage, although no official confirmation has been provided.
An official from the Airport Authority of India stated, “IndiGo flight 6E2142 en route from Delhi to Srinagar experienced bad weather (hailstorm), with the emergency reported by the pilot to ATC SXR (Srinagar).” He confirmed that the flight safely touched down at 6:30 PM, adding that all 227 passengers and crew members were unharmed. The aircraft was declared ‘Aircraft on Ground’ (AOG), indicating it could not fly due to technical difficulties.
TMC delegate Sagarika Ghose was among those on board and described the ordeal as “a near-death experience.” She expressed gratitude toward the pilot for navigating safely, recounting the fear that gripped passengers, many of whom were praying as the plane battled the storm. “When we landed, we saw the nose of the plane had blown up,” she remarked.
Another passenger, Owais Maqbool Hakeem, recounted his frightening experience, posting on social media, “It was a near-death experience… the nose of the plane is damaged.” He claimed that the nose and right side of the aircraft were indeed damaged, and security personnel prevented them from seeing the extent of the damage.
One passenger described an announcement made roughly 20-30 minutes before landing, urging everyone to fasten their seatbelts due to anticipated turbulence. He indicated that the situation escalated incredibly fast, saying, “Within two to three minutes, there was so much turbulence that we all felt it would be our last flight. I am a frequent flyer but have never experienced such turbulence. I am very thankful to the pilot for making a safe landing.”
IndiGo later released a statement confirming that the flight encountered a sudden hailstorm en route from the national capital to Srinagar and that all safety protocols were followed, allowing for a secure landing. The airline assured that the airport team prioritized the comfort and wellbeing of the passengers upon their arrival. They also noted that the aircraft would undergo necessary inspections and maintenance before being released.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/near-death-experience-srinagar-bound-indigo-flight-hit-by-sudden-hailstorm-passengers-panic-mid-air-13890533.html
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Publish Date: 2025-05-23 00:06:00
