IndiGo Pilots Begged for Help—Lahore ATC Refused as Jet Fought Deadly Storm

New Delhi(The Uttam Hindu): The pilots of the IndiGo aircraft, which was damaged during turbulent weather while flying to Srinagar, were not granted clearance by the Lahore ATC to briefly cross into Pakistan airspace in order to avoid the hailstorm, in a gross disregard of humanitarian principles.

India's civil aviation authority, the DGCA, stated that the plane was cruising at about 36,000 feet close to Punjab's Pathankot when it encountered a thunderstorm and hailstorm.

Undergoing intense turbulence, the flight crew initially asked the Indian Air Force's Northern ATC to let the flight drift towards the International Border. The request was rejected as it was believed that the aircraft would be in harm's way from the Pakistani side in light of the intense hostilities recently observed between India and the country in Operation Sindoor.

The pilot then requested permission from the Lahore air traffic control (ATC) to temporarily enter Pakistani airspace in order to steer clear of the storm. But it was denied, too.

With few alternatives remaining, the pilot first thought of going back to Delhi. But as the aircraft was near the "thunderstorm cloud", going back was not deemed a safe option. The pilot then chose to push forward through the storm into Srinagar by the shortest available route, the DGCA statement added.

While trying to maneuver through the thunderstorm, the plane flew through "extreme updrafts and downdrafts" which caused the autopilot to disconnect and its speed to oscillate.

"During the thunderstorm cloud, indications of an angle of attack fault, alternate saw protection lost, and unreliable airspeed indications were activated," the statement added.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation stated that for a moment, the rate of descent of the aircraft was 8,500 feet per minute. It also stated that the crew manually controlled the aircraft during this critical portion until the exit from the hailstorm. The pilot then issued an emergency to the Srinagar ATC, which then had radar vectors activated. The aircraft landed safely in Srinagar with no injuries reported to any of the passengers or the crew.

The DGCA informed that the aircraft landed safely with the auto thrust system manually operated. There was no harm to the passengers who were on board the flight. A post-flight inspection found that the nose of the plane was damaged. A complete inquiry has been initiated into the accident, the statement said.