DGCA Grounds IndiGo Pilots After Delhi to Srinagar Flight Turbulence

NEW DELHI- India’s aviation regulator, DGCA, grounded two IndiGo Airlines (6E) pilots following their Wednesday evening flight from Delhi (DEL) to Srinagar (SXR) that encountered severe hailstorm conditions.

The DGCA investigation revealed the Airbus A321neo plummeted at 8,500 feet per minute. Multiple flight control systems failed during the storm.

Photo: X User | Compounded by Aviation A2Z

DGCA Grounds IndiGo Pilots

IndiGo (6E) flight 6E-2142 departed Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) at 4:55 PM on Wednesday. It was bound for Srinagar (SXR) with 227 passengers aboard.

The crisis began when the Airbus A321 Neo entered a hailstorm and severe turbulence near Pathankot while cruising at 36,000 feet.

Recognising the danger, pilots requested northern control under the Indian Air Force for deviation towards the international border. Controllers denied this request due to existing restrictions from recent military tensions.

Growing desperate as the storm approached, the crew contacted Lahore air traffic control requesting entry into Pakistani airspace to avoid the weather conditions.

Pakistani controllers refused this request despite the developing emergency, citing ongoing NOTAM restrictions preventing aircraft registered in either country from entering the other’s airspace. These restrictions had been implemented following cross-border military operations earlier in the month.

Northern area control advised the IndiGo crew within the NOTAM framework while providing requisite contact frequencies for Lahore control to facilitate an overflight weather diversion request. However, Lahore ultimately denied permission, leaving the aircraft with no viable escape route as the storm intensified.

Image: Indian Air Force MiG-21, Courtesy of the creator

System Failures

With no alternative available, the crew initially attempted to return but found themselves too close to the thunderstorm cloud to safely execute this manoeuvre. The pilots decided to penetrate the weather system directly, entering life-threatening conditions.

Multiple system warnings triggered simultaneously, including angle of attack fault, alternate law protection lost, and backup speed scale unreliable alerts.

The autopilot system tripped due to violent air movements, forcing pilots to assume manual control while the aircraft’s speed experienced dangerous variations.

At the crisis peak, the aircraft descended at 8,500 feet per minute, more than four times the normal rate, while pilots received simultaneous stall and overspeed warnings.

Indigo Delhi to Srinagar Flight Details; Photo- Flightradar24

Emergency Response

The crew maintained manual control throughout their passage through the hailstorm, successfully exiting the storm system and regaining aircraft control. After completing the checklist actions, they declared PAN PAN to Srinagar air traffic control, indicating serious difficulty requiring assistance.

The aircraft made a safe landing with auto thrust operating normally, though post-flight inspection revealed impact damage to the nose radome.

Investigation

Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu acknowledged the incident’s gravity while praising the crew’s composed handling of the emergency.

The DGCA confirmed both pilots have been grounded pending investigation completion. Aviation experts praised the crew’s recovery while questioning decisions leading to the crisis.

Meteorological expert Mahesh Palawat explained that severe thunderstorm activity impacted northwest India that day, creating conditions capable of causing intense turbulence and equipment damage. The minister expressed gratitude that no casualties occurred while confirming thorough investigation procedures.

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