On May 21, an IndiGo flight (6E-2142) traveling from Delhi to Srinagar with over 220 people onboard—including five Trinamool Congress MPs—faced a mid-air emergency after encountering a severe hailstorm. The turbulence caused significant damage to the aircraft’s nose (radome), prompting the pilot to request emergency clearance to briefly enter Pakistani airspace to bypass the rough weather. However, the request was denied by Lahore Air Traffic Control.
According to Indian Air Force sources, the denial was consistent with a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM A0220/25) issued by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority, which currently prohibits Indian-registered civilian and military aircraft from entering Pakistani airspace. This restriction, in place until midnight on May 23, had already been incorporated into Indian carriers' route planning.
Despite the denial, the situation intensified as the aircraft approached Srinagar. In response, Northern Area Control and Delhi Area Control coordinated with the IndiGo crew and provided them with Lahore ATC frequencies in case clearance was granted—though ultimately, it was not.
In the absence of access to Pakistani airspace, the Indian Air Force stepped in. IAF authorities provided real-time navigation support, including control vectors and groundspeed updates, to help the pilots safely guide the aircraft through turbulent conditions. The flight declared a mid-air emergency, but successfully landed at 6:30 pm in Srinagar.
All passengers and crew were evacuated safely. However, the aircraft sustained enough damage for IndiGo to classify it as "Aircraft on Ground" (AOG)—indicating it will remain grounded for repairs.
Among the passengers were five Trinamool Congress leaders: Derek O'Brien, Nadimul Haque, Sagarika Ghose, Manas Bhunia, and Mamata Thakur.
