Chaos In The Sky: IndiGo Flight Plunges 8,500 Feet In A Minute As Pakistan Denies Airspace
Over 200 lives were put at risk due to Pakistan's denial of IndiGo's request to enter its airspace during a dangerous hailstorm on May 21, officials said.
The Delhi-Srinagar IndiGo flight 6E-2142, which survived a threatening hailstorm midair on May 21, had first asked the northern air traffic control (managed by the Indian Air Force) for permission to turn towards Pakistan to escape bad weather. However, after permission was denied, the pilot then contacted Lahore, but the neighbouring country turned it down, putting the lives of all onboard at risk, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
When the pilot was left with no other option, he had to continue flying and successfully landed the aircraft in Srinagar. However, the flight, which carried over 220 people, including TMC MPs, suffered heavy damage on its nose due to the storm.
While flying through the thunderstorm, the plane faced strong turbulence and was hit by powerful upward and downward air currents, known as 'updrafts and downdrafts." This caused the autopilot to switch off and led to sudden changes in the aircraft's speed. As the pilot carried on the onward journey, the aircraft's rate of descent reached 8,500 ft/min(feet per minute) and had to be flown manually till it exited the storm. The dangerous turn of events led to panic among passengers in the aircraft as they screamed and prayed for safety. Several videos showing the traumatic experiences of passengers surfaced on social media.
Pakistan has shut its airspace for Indian flights. India closed its airspace for Pakistani carriers after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
What Happened Midair On May 21?
According to the DGCA statement, the flight was at an altitude of nearly 36,000 feet near Punjab's Pathankot when it was struck by a hailstorm followed by severe turbulence.
As trouble rose, the pilot first sought permission from the northern air traffic control to turn towards the international border – where tensions were at their peak during Operation Sindoor between May 7 and 10 – to avoid the storm. However, the request was denied.
'As per crew statement, they requested Northern control (IAF) for deviation towards left (International Border) due to weather on the route, however, it was not approved," the statement said.
More to follow…
First Published:
May 23, 2025, 16:49 IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
43 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Pondicherry University launches PG diploma courses in rock art, Agamic studies
Pondicherry University has launched one-year PG diploma courses for rock art and Agamic studies offered by its History Department. Launching the courses run by two newly launched research centres on these respective areas, P. Prakash Babu, Pondicherry University Vice-Chancellor, said the two centres were 'unique and socially relevant in the present-day materialist world'. Admissions to the two diploma courses will commence very soon, he added. The Center for Agamic Studies and Indian Knowledge systems aims to study the dynamic role of temple in the medieval Indian society and the role of Agamic texts in the growth and expansion of the professional arts and crafts of the lower sections of the society. The Agamic texts also help in unravelling their role as contributors to sustainable development in the medieval times which can provide lessons to learn in the implementation of SDGs in the contemporary times. The diploma in rock art and cognitive studies is a field based discipline with the curriculum designed to provide a wide knowledge of the global as well as Indian rock art traditions. The programme will equip the students the necessary skills to get employed in eco-tourism, adventure tourism as well as making them qualified site managers of the rock art locations. According to the Vice Chancellor, this vital pictorial evidence of the prehistoric times helps us to understand the evolution of the cognitive capabilities of the human species and their manifestation in the form of paintings and engravings. In fact, the prehistoric paintings acted as teaching aids for the adolescent hunters in understanding the behavioural patterns of the wild animals. N. Chandramouli, Head, Department of History said idea for these centres were sown during a 2023 international seminar led by the University on tantric religion that saw enriching contributions of several Indian and foreign scholars. Madhu Khanna, exponent of tantric studies and founding Trustee of Tantra foundation, New Delhi, conveyed her felicitation message to the University leadership. Ruman Banerjee, Assistant Professor, Department of History, said a comprehensive curriculum had been developed for the rock art diploma programme. Students would be initiated into methodologies of rock art documentation and conservation, theoretical frameworks of cognitive archaeology and cutting-edge research on the neurological underpinnings of artistic expressions. They will not only learn from leading scholars but also gain invaluable hands-on experience in the field, contributing directly to our ongoing research projects. G. Chandhrika, Dean, School of Social Sciences & International Studies, highlighted the spiritual aspects of the Agamic temples. Kishor Kumar Tripathy, Member Secretary, Sri Aurobindo Society, expressed the SAS's readiness to collaborate with the two research centres. Apart from Ruman Banerjee, Assistant Professor, Department of History, the heads of the departments and centres, Deans, faculty, research scholars and statutory officers participated.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Dhaka jet tragedy kills 'young students'; Bangladesh Cricket Board issues statement: 'Profound sorrow over the tragic air crash'
Firemen look for the survivors after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft that crashed onto a school campus (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu) The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has expressed deep sorrow following the tragic crash of an F-7 BGI training aircraft that struck Milestone School & College in Dhaka's Uttara area on Monday. The devastating incident left at least 20 people dead and over 150 injured, including students who were on campus when the crash occurred. 'The Bangladesh Cricket Board expresses profound sorrow over the tragic air crash at Milestone School & College in Dhaka. We stand in solidarity with the grieving families and all those affected. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to everyone impacted by this heartbreaking tragedy,' the BCB posted on X. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed also shared a heartfelt video on social media, offering his prayers and solidarity to the victims and their families. The aircraft, identified as a Chinese-made F-7 BGI fighter jet, was on a routine training mission before it crashed at around 1:06 pm. The impact caused widespread panic in the neighbourhood as emergency response teams, including fire services and military rescue squads, rushed to the scene. Footage from the site showed thick smoke rising from the school premises as authorities worked to evacuate and assist the injured. Poll What is your main concern regarding the recent aircraft crash? Loss of lives Injury to students Impact on safety regulations Future of aviation training A spokesperson for Milestone School and College said, 'The plane fell on the gate and crashed nearby. A class was in session where the plane crashed. The injured are being taken out one by one.' Bangladesh army officials confirmed that the jet belonged to the air force, but have yet to release details on what caused the crash or whether the pilot managed to eject. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed condolences on X, writing, 'Deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives, many of them young students, in a tragic air crash in Dhaka. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families. We pray for the swift recovery of those injured. India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance.' Authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
IndiGo Flight With 140 Passengers On Board Makes Emergency Landing In Indore
The aircraft departed Goa's Dabolim Airport at 3:14 p.m. and was approaching Indore when the pilot alerted Air Traffic Control about the irregular hydraulic response linked to the landing gear. As a precaution, the plane circled Indore's airspace seven to eight times while emergency response units were mobilised on the ground. Fire brigades, medical teams, and airport officials were deployed along the runway, anticipating a potentially hazardous landing. The aircraft touched down safely at 5:08 p.m., with all 140 passengers and crew members reported unharmed. This marks the second such scare within 24 hours for the carrier. On Sunday evening, flight 6E 6591 from Tirupati to Hyderabad encountered a separate technical snag shortly after take-off. According to flight tracking data from FlightRadar24, the plane left Tirupati Airport at 7:42 p.m., but was forced to circle overhead before landing back at 8:34 p.m. That flight, also an A321neo and the last scheduled service from Tirupati to Hyderabad for the day, was cancelled. IndiGo has yet to offer a comprehensive statement regarding either incident. Aviation sources suggest both were precautionary manoeuvres prompted by cockpit alerts, not structural failures. However, the proximity of two mechanical alerts involving the same aircraft model has drawn attention from civil aviation authorities, who are expected to initiate a review of maintenance protocols and alert response strategies. Passengers on both flights have expressed relief over the crew's handling of the situations, while aviation observers await official explanations from the airline and regulators regarding any underlying causes or patterns behind the sudden malfunctions.
