The Indian Air Force (IAF) also did not approve the request of the Delhi to Srinagar IndiGo flight crew to divert the flight into Pakistan’s airspace after it was caught in a hailstorm near Pathankot on Wednesday; the Lahore Air Traffic Control too denied entry to the airplane.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Friday that the IndiGo flight 6E 2142’s crew had requested the Northern Area Control Centre (NACC) for permission to deviate towards the international border, leaving from the approved route, which was not approved.
Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines on April 24, two days after the Pahalgam terror attack.
“While cruising at FL360 (36,000 feet), aircraft entered hailstorm and severe turbulence near Pathankot. 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. Later crew contacted Lahore to enter into their airspace to avoid the weather but the same was refused too.”
Crew initially attempted to turn back but as they were close to the thunderstorm cloud, they decided to penetrate the weather. Subsequently, they encountered hailstorm and severe turbulence. Crew chose to continue at the same, heading to exit the weather by the shortest route towards Srinagar,” the DGCA stated.
As per The Hindu, NACC, which is managed by the IAF, is not authorised to allow Indian aircraft to enter international airspace. This authority lies with the Delhi Air Traffic Control.
IAF sources also told The Indian Express that the flight was assisted immediately in coordinating its route diversion and the denial of its request was in line with the ban on Indian airplanes to enter Pakistan’s airspace.
The flight has 222 passengers onboard which also included five Trinamool Congress MPs who were on their way to meet people affected by the cross-border shelling near the Line of Control in the latest India-Pakistan escalation. The passengers and crew were not injured as the flight safely made it through the hailstorm by employing wide speed variations and rapid altitude changes. The flight’s nose was damaged, which has a radome - an aerodynamic weatherproof that houses the plane’s radar antenna.
The plane took flight from Delhi at 5:00 PM and arrived in Srinagar at 6:46 PM. Several videos had surfaced on social media showing panic-stricken passengers praying for their lives.
“Due to updraft and downdraft encountered by the aircraft, the autopilot tripped and aircraft speed had wide variations. As a result, maximum operating speed/maximum operating mach (VMO/MMO) warnings and repeated stall warnings were triggered. During this period, the aircraft rate of descent reached 8500 fpm (feet per minute). Crew flew the aircraft manually till they exited the hailstorm,” the DGCA said based on the crew’s statement.
