An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar encountered severe turbulence due to a sudden hailstorm on Wednesday, affecting various parts of Delhi and its surrounding region. Fortunately, the flight landed safely, with all 200 passengers unharmed, including a delegation of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs.
The flight, numbered 6E 2142, was en route to Poonch when it hit rough weather mid-air. TMC MP Sagarika Ghose vividly described the experience, noting that passengers were screaming, praying, and panicking during the ordeal. She praised the pilot’s skill in ensuring a safe landing. “It was a near-death experience. I thought my life was over. People were screaming, praying, and panicking,” Ghose reflected, adding, “Hats off to the pilot who brought us through that. When we landed, we saw the nose of the plane had blown up.” After landing, the entire delegation expressed their gratitude to the pilot.
Social media captured videos of the turbulence, showing passengers clearly shaken as the aircraft swayed. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi shared her concern on X, showcasing footage of the tumultuous moments and noting that she realized the TMC delegation was on that flight. She expressed relief following the incident, stating, “Glad to hear that all the passengers are fine. The captain deserves to be honored for maintaining his composure and safeguarding everyone.”
IndiGo confirmed the occurrence in a statement, explaining that flight 6E 2142 had encountered a sudden hailstorm, but that the crew followed safety protocols and prioritized passenger care upon landing. The airline reassured that further inspections and maintenance would be conducted before the aircraft was cleared for use again.
Heavy rainfall disrupted flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on the same day, leading to the diversion of at least 13 flights due to thunderstorms. Twelve of those flights were rerouted to Jaipur, while one international flight was sent to Mumbai. IndiGo acknowledged that ongoing weather conditions were affecting flight schedules across several cities, including Delhi, Chandigarh, and Kolkata. The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) issued an advisory indicating potential impacts due to inclement weather.
This weather disruption was part of a larger storm that swept through the Delhi region, providing relief from a prolonged heatwave that had raised temperatures above 40°C. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that a significant cloud formation prompted strong winds and light rain across the area, with gusts reaching speeds up to 70 km/h.
Original Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/trinamool-mp-sagarika-ghose-derek-o-brien-describes-near-death-experience-after-indigo-flight-gets-caught-in-hailstorms-101747873450755.html
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Publish Date: 2025-05-22 06:25:00
