Pakistan Denied Airspace To IndiGo Delhi–Srinagar Flight During Hailstorm, DGCA Says
The crew of IndiGo flight 6E-2142 had contacted Lahore air traffic control to request entry into Pakistani airspace to avoid adverse weather conditions near Pathankot.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said that Pakistan denied airspace access to an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar on Wednesday after the aircraft encountered a hailstorm and severe turbulence mid-air.
The aviation sector regulator said the crew of flight 6E-2142 had contacted Lahore air traffic control to request entry into Pakistani airspace to avoid adverse weather conditions near Pathankot and the request was refused.
Earlier, the crew had also sought clearance from Indian authorities to deviate from the flight path towards the left, close to the international border, but this was not approved either, according to a statement.
The incident comes weeks after heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, following the terror attack in Pahalgam. After the tensions escalated, the neighbouring country closed its airspace for Indian carriers.
The incident involving the IndiGo flight, that required an emergency measure to be taken, was reported on Wednesday when weather conditions worsened. The crew initially considered turning back but decided instead to continue through the weather due to their proximity to the thunderstorm. The aircraft encountered hailstorm and turbulence, triggering multiple system warnings. The autopilot disconnected and the crew manually flew the aircraft. After completing required checklist procedures, the pilots declared a “PAN PAN” to Srinagar air traffic control and landed the aircraft safely.
