‘Close to-death expertise’: Srinagar-bound IndiGo flight hit by sudden hailstorm, passengers panic mid-air

A Srinagar-bound IndiGo flight from Delhi with greater than 220 folks, together with TMC MPs, on board encountered sudden hailstorm on Wednesday, prompting the pilot to report the “emergency” to air site visitors management at Srinagar. The plane later landed safely in Srinagar and has been grounded, officers mentioned.

Movies of the moments of turbulence shared on social media confirmed panic-stricken passengers could possibly be heard making spiritual supplications because the airplane swayed.

Some passengers claimed that the nostril of the airplane was broken however there was no official phrase on it.

“IndiGo flight 6E2142 enroute Delhi to Srinagar skilled unhealthy climate (hail storm), emergency reported by Pilot to ATC SXR (Srinagar),” an official of the Airport Authority of India mentioned right here.

He mentioned the flight landed safely at Srinagar at 6.30 pm.

“All aircrew and 227 passengers are protected and the flight is asserted AOG by the airline,” he mentioned.

‘Plane on floor’ (AOG) refers to a airplane that’s grounded and unable to fly because of technical points.

A Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation, which included Derek O’Brien, Sagarika Ghose, Nadimul Haque, Mamata Thakur and Manas Bhuyan, was on board the airplane, Ghose mentioned.

“It was a near-death expertise. I assumed my life was over. Folks had been screaming, praying and panicking. Hats off to the pilot who introduced us by way of that. After we landed we noticed the nostril of the airplane had blown up,” Ghose mentioned.

“I used to be within the airplane and heading again dwelling from Srinagar…It was a near-death expertise… the nostril of the airplane is broken,” Owais Maqbool Hakeem (@owaismaqbool) posted on X.

“The Nostril and Proper facet of the airplane was broken… And we weren’t allowed to see a lot as airforce police was there,” Hakeem claimed in one other submit.

One other passenger mentioned that round 20-Half-hour earlier than touchdown at Srinagar, there was an announcement to lock the seat belts as there was turbulence.

“Inside two to a few minutes of the announcement, there was a lot turbulence that every one felt it will likely be our final flight… I’m a frequent flyer however I’ve by no means skilled such turbulence. However I’m very grateful to the pilot for making a protected touchdown,” the passenger mentioned.

Later, in an announcement, IndiGo mentioned its flight from the nationwide capital to Srinagar encountered sudden hailstorm and the airplane landed safely on the Srinagar airport.

“IndiGo flight 6E 2142 working from Delhi to Srinagar encountered sudden hailstorm enroute. The flight and cabin crew adopted established protocol and the plane landed safely in Srinagar,” the airline mentioned.

In keeping with IndiGo, the airport crew attended to the purchasers after arrival of the plane, prioritising their wellbeing and luxury.

“The plane shall be launched submit obligatory inspection and upkeep,” it added.