DGCA Grounds IndiGo Pilots for Breaching Protocol

IndiGo Delhi-Srinagar Flight Faces Severe Turbulence Amid Airspace Denials, Pilots Grounded Pending DGCA Probe

 

In a serious aviation incident that has prompted regulatory scrutiny, an IndiGo Airbus A321 Neo operating flight 6E-2142 from Delhi to Srinagar encountered extreme turbulence and severe weather mid-flight on Wednesday evening, resulting in the temporary grounding of both operating pilots by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The aircraft, carrying 227 passengers, experienced a sudden and dangerous descent at an alarming rate of 8,500 feet per minute—more than four times the standard rate—after flying into a hailstorm while cruising at 36,000 feet near Pathankot. According to preliminary DGCA findings, the aircraft’s flight control systems suffered partial failures, triggering simultaneous stall and overspeed warnings—an extremely rare and hazardous combination that suggests the aircraft may have momentarily lost aerodynamic stability.

As the storm cell closed in, the flight crew sought permission to divert leftwards towards the west—an area falling close to the Indo-Pak border. However, the request was not approved by Northern control, operated by the Indian Air Force, reportedly due to standing reciprocal airspace restrictions linked to recent military tensions between India and Pakistan.

In a bid to escape the weather cell, the crew attempted to contact Lahore ATC directly for entry into Pakistani airspace. However, the request was refused, citing an active NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) banning aircraft from either nation from entering the other’s controlled airspace following cross-border military operations earlier this month.

Despite the compounding challenges and absence of viable diversion routes, the crew managed to stabilise the aircraft and continued to Srinagar, where the flight landed safely at 6:25pm—approximately 90 minutes after departure from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The DGCA confirmed that an investigation is underway and both pilots have been de-rostered pending the outcome. While no injuries were reported, the incident has sparked serious questions around crisis protocol, weather avoidance practices, and the operational impact of geopolitical airspace restrictions on civil aviation.

Officials familiar with the matter have clarified that the Indian Air Force’s denial to permit deviation was advisory in nature, informed by the standing Pakistani NOTAM. Nonetheless, the lack of an immediate weather contingency route highlights operational vulnerabilities when strategic airspace closures intersect with in-flight emergencies.

The Civil Aviation Ministry has taken cognisance of the seriousness of the event, with assurances that a detailed inquiry is being undertaken to assess procedural compliance and crew conduct, alongside a review of communication protocols between civilian and military controllers during airborne emergencies.