Pakistan: On Wednesday evening, unseasonal rains lashed the northern states. During this time, an IndiGo flight flying from Delhi to Srinagar got caught in a gust of wind due to unfavourable weather conditions. The pilot sought permission to enter Pakistani airspace but to no avail. Although the front of the plane was damaged by the storm, the pilot managed to land the plane safely. The incident assumed more significance as Trinamool Congress MPs were among the passengers. The passengers breathed a sigh of relief that a major accident had been averted.
The northern states were hit by unseasonal rains on May 21. It is known that an IndiGo flight flying from the national capital Delhi to Srinagar faced adverse weather conditions due to sudden gusts of wind. When the plane reached near Srinagar, hailstorm suddenly started. Due to this, the IndiGo pilot requested permission to enter Pakistani airspace from Lahore. But Pakistan rejected this request, PTI news agency reported, citing official sources. The request was made while the plane was flying over Amritsar. But as permission was not received, the plane had to fly on its original route. It is known that Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian flights due to the tensions after the Pahalgam incident .
The front of the plane was damaged due to the cyclone. There were 227 passengers on board the IndiGo flight 6E2142 from New Delhi to Srinagar. The plane suddenly started shaking due to the adverse weather conditions. The passengers on the plane were in a panic.
When the plane reached Srinagar, the pilot declared an emergency. Everyone thought their lives were lost in the air. But, finally, they breathed a sigh of relief when the pilot landed the plane safely at Srinagar Airport. However, its front end was already damaged. As soon as it landed at Srinagar Airport, the ground duty staff started rescue operations. All the passengers and crew were safely disembarked, and the plane was declared ‘aircraft on ground’ for immediate repairs.
IndiGo, which made a statement on the incident, said, “The flight from Delhi to Srinagar encountered a sudden storm, but landed successfully at the Srinagar International Airport.” “We have informed all the passengers after landing. No one was injured. The aircraft is currently undergoing inspections and repairs in Srinagar. Services will resume after the necessary permissions are received,” the airline said.
The plane was carrying five leaders, including Trinamool Congress MPs Derek O’Brien and Nadeemul Haque. They thanked the pilot for landing the plane safely. “We went to the brink of death. It seemed like our lives were almost lost. The passengers were screaming, praying and crying in fear,” said journalist Sagarika Ghosh.
“He is our hero. When the plane landed, we found that the front section was completely destroyed,” she said. Later, the delegation met the pilot and thanked him. The incident once again highlighted the challenges faced by airlines during the tense situation between India and Pakistan. The incident also highlighted the impact of restrictions on airspace clearances during adverse weather conditions.
After the Pahalgam terror attack, both countries suspended airspace clearances for each other in the wake of the tensions between India and Pakistan . However, there have been cases where flights have been allowed only in humanitarian emergencies. However, Pakistan has acted differently. The central government, however, has stated that it is common for Indian aircraft to be denied entry into Pakistani airspace.
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