IndiGo Flight Denied Emergency Entry into Pakistan Airspace as the Flight Endured Violent Storm
In a harrowing incident that underscores the challenges of operating flights in geopolitically sensitive regions, an IndiGo flight en route to Srinagar was severely damaged while navigating a violent thunderstorm and hailstorm over northern India. What could have been a disaster was narrowly averted by the skilled response of the pilots—who, despite being denied a vital weather-related diversion by both Indian and Pakistani authorities, managed to land the plane safely with no injuries reported.
According to a detailed statement issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s civil aviation regulator, the aircraft was cruising at 36,000 feet near Pathankot, Punjab, when it encountered a severe thunderstorm embedded with large hail clouds. Turbulence intensified quickly, throwing the flight into one of its most critical airborne moments in recent history.
DGCA confirms that Pakistan’s Lahore ATC denied permission to distressed IndiGo Delhi-Srinagar flight on May 21 from entering Pak airspace briefly to avoid thunderstorm. The aviation terrorism of Pakistan stands confirmed pic.twitter.com/phjZHBTefO
— Pradeep Tiwari (@pradeep14869) May 23, 2025
Faced with a fast-approaching hailstorm and unable to alter course laterally due to restricted air corridors near the International Border, the flight crew initially sought emergency permission from the Northern Air Traffic Control (ATC) under the Indian Air Force (IAF) to briefly deviate into Pakistani airspace for safety. However, permission was denied due to heightened military tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor—India’s recent precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
According to sources, the denial was based on concerns that the aircraft might be misinterpreted as a hostile entry by Pakistani air defences, given the current post-strike volatility along the Line of Control.
Lahore ATC ने क्षतिग्रस्त इंडिगो विमान को लैंड करने की अनुमति न दे कर कोई नया काम नहीं किया
बस दुख इस बात का है कि पाकिस्तान अपनी कुछ नाजायज औलादे को अभी तक यहां से नहीं ले गया pic.twitter.com/PDQ7zKYqFl
— Kikki Singh (@singh_kikki) May 23, 2025
Left with few alternatives, the IndiGo pilots turned to Lahore ATC for humanitarian clearance to briefly enter Pakistani airspace to avoid the storm—a standard international aviation protocol during emergencies. However, this request too was denied, drawing criticism from aviation experts and government officials alike for what is being described as a “clear violation of international humanitarian norms.”
In its statement, the DGCA said, “Despite genuine meteorological risk, the crew’s request to both Indian and Pakistani air traffic control to deviate from the storm path was turned down. These were critical moments in which the aircraft was operating under significant meteorological stress.”
The pilot then considered returning to Delhi, but due to the aircraft’s proximity to the core of the thunderstorm cell, that maneuver was deemed unsafe. Ultimately, the decision was made to continue toward Srinagar on the most direct route possible while attempting to navigate through the edge of the storm system.
During this critical window, the aircraft encountered extreme turbulence characterized by intense vertical air movements—updrafts and downdrafts—resulting in the disengagement of the autopilot. The aircraft’s speed became unstable, and multiple warning systems were triggered, including alerts for angle of attack faults and unreliable airspeed.
At one point, the aircraft’s rate of descent hit a dangerous 8,500 feet per minute, prompting the pilots to switch to full manual control. It was during this phase that the captain declared an emergency with Srinagar ATC. Ground controllers promptly activated radar vectoring to assist the flight’s approach, and after a tense descent, the aircraft managed to land safely in Srinagar.
“Thanks to the timely intervention and professional skill of the cockpit crew, a safe landing was achieved. The auto-thrust system was also manually operated during the final phase of the flight,” the DGCA confirmed.
Post-landing inspections revealed visible damage to the aircraft’s nose cone, a common indicator of hail impact. A comprehensive investigation has been launched into the incident, focusing on weather avoidance protocols, air traffic responses, and damage assessment.
Though all passengers and crew were reported safe, the incident has reignited debates around international aviation norms during emergencies, particularly in politically charged airspaces. Aviation experts have pointed out that under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines, humanitarian considerations typically override airspace restrictions during weather emergencies. Pakistan’s refusal, they argue, contravenes those principles.
“Humanitarian airspace access should not be politicized,” said a senior pilot from Air India. “A thunderstorm doesn’t care about borders. Today, this could have ended tragically if not for the pilot’s calm under pressure.”
The Ministry of Civil Aviation is reportedly preparing to raise the issue with ICAO through diplomatic channels, emphasizing the need for stronger commitments to global emergency aviation cooperation—even between adversarial nations.
|Also Read : Watch: Lahore ATC refused to help IndiGo flight stuck in hailstorm danger |
