Summary
- IndiGo flight 6E 2142 from Delhi to Srinagar encountered severe turbulence and hailstorm near Pathankot, damaging the aircraft’s nose radome.
- Pilots sought permission from both Indian and Pakistani authorities to enter alternative airspace but were denied, forcing them to fly through dangerous weather.
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is probing the incident, raising questions about airspace diplomacy, pilot safety, and international coordination.
Weather vs. Wariness: When Aviation Meets Geopolitics
What should have been a routine domestic flight turned into a high-altitude gamble as IndiGo’s A321 neo aircraft, operating flight 6E 2142, was battered by a hailstorm en route to Srinagar. But what’s most revealing about the incident isn’t just the turbulence—it’s how airspace remains a pawn in geopolitical tension.
Flying near Pathankot, close to the International Border, the pilots requested permission to deviate into Pakistani airspace to avoid a dangerous weather system. The response from Lahore ATC: a firm no. India’s Northern Control, operated by the Indian Air Force, had also denied a leftward deviation earlier. Caught between cloudbursts and closed borders, the crew had no choice but to “penetrate the weather.”
The result? Severe turbulence. Hail damage to the radome. A shaken cabin. And a deeper reminder that even in the skies, politics remains the ultimate turbulence.
DGCA statement on the incident involving indigo flight that had requested to use Pakistan airspace to avoid turbulence and the requests was turned down by Pakistan #dgca #airturbulence #indigo pic.twitter.com/CsCLY3UpwN
— Preeti Sompura (@sompura_preeti) May 23, 2025
The Flight Path Denied: What the DGCA Revealed
- The DGCA confirmed that no passengers were injured, but the aircraft’s nose radome was significantly damaged.
- The crew first tried to request deviation from Indian air control near Pathankot but was denied due to proximity to the border.
- A subsequent plea to Lahore ATC for temporary entry into Pakistani airspace was also rejected.
- The pilots initially considered turning back but chose to “penetrate” the storm, prioritizing the fastest exit route toward Srinagar.
- The incident is now under investigation by India’s aviation watchdog.
India-Pakistan airspace coordination is governed not only by civil protocols but military oversight—especially near sensitive sectors like Pathankot, which sits just south of a heavily militarised border. In this context, weather becomes a secondary concern.
Despite modern aircraft being capable of withstanding turbulence, hailstorms can pose serious risks to both aerodynamics and passenger safety. The DGCA’s probe will likely focus on decision-making timelines, coordination delays, and communication between flight crew and ATC authorities on both sides.
Beyond the Cockpit: Airspace as a Diplomatic Pressure Valve
- Airspace closures between India and Pakistan have occurred multiple times—most notably after the Balakot airstrike in 2019.
- Civil aviation remains hostage to military friction, with cross-border permissions treated as security liabilities.
- Experts argue that in extreme weather conditions, humanitarian safety should temporarily override geopolitical rigidity.
- The absence of a standing bilateral aviation coordination mechanism leaves pilots with few real-time options near borders.
The rejection from Lahore ATC wasn’t unprecedented. Pakistan’s airspace has often been restricted or entirely closed to Indian carriers during periods of heightened tension. But what makes this incident different is the context: a weather emergency, not a political provocation.
This event throws a spotlight on a gaping void in subcontinental aviation diplomacy. Unlike the U.S. and Canada, or even Russia and Europe during peacetime, India and Pakistan lack standing aviation corridors for weather-related emergencies. The result? Pilots are often forced to make high-risk calls with few alternatives.
Calls are growing within the aviation community for a humanitarian airspace protocol—one that allows short, closely monitored entry into neighboring airspace strictly for weather avoidance. Without such safeguards, passengers are left exposed, and pilots cornered.
Hailstorm, Headlines, and High-Stakes Lessons
The incident on flight 6E 2142 has already faded from headlines. No lives were lost. No heroic landing needed. But the radar damage tells a deeper story—one of boundaries that refuse to budge even when lives may be on the line.
As climate change intensifies and extreme weather events become more frequent, aviation systems will need more than technical upgrades—they’ll need diplomatic evolution. Until then, every storm near a border remains a risk not just of turbulence, but of tragic miscalculation.
Because sometimes, the real danger isn’t the storm outside—it’s the invisible walls we draw in the skies.
