IAF Questions IndiGo Pilot For Ignoring Amritsar Option After Plane Damage During Delhi-Srinagar Flight
The IAF criticised an IndiGo pilot for seeking Pakistani airspace clearance after weather damage, amidst heightened tensions and Pakistan's airspace ban extension until June 2025.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has expressed strong disapproval over the actions of an IndiGo pilot who sought clearance to enter Pakistani airspace instead of opting for an emergency landing at Amritsar after the aircraft sustained damage due to bad weather. This comes at a time when Pakistan has extended its airspace ban for Indian aircraft until 23 June 2025, amid heightened military tensions.
Pakistan issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) on 23 May, extending its airspace closure for all Indian-registered and operated aircraft—including those owned, leased, or run by Indian airlines and military forces—until 23 June. The decision follows rising tensions between the two countries after the 22 April terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam and India’s subsequent ‘Operation Sindoor’.
On Wednesday, IndiGo flight 6E-2142 from Delhi to Srinagar encountered severe turbulence near Pathankot. According to sources, the pilot attempted to seek clearance from the Indian Air Force’s Northern Area Control Centre in Udhampur to enter airspace along the International Border (IB) with Pakistan.
However, the IAF denied the request, citing Pakistan’s NOTAM and the inherent danger of flying near the sensitive border zone. The aircraft’s avionics had reportedly malfunctioned during the turbulence, raising the stakes of the decision-making in mid-air.
After being denied access to the border airspace, the pilot requested that Delhi’s Flight Information Clearance (FIC) unit establish contact with Lahore Air Traffic Control (ATC). Though the FIC facilitated the communication, Lahore ATC categorically refused to grant entry to Pakistani airspace.
Despite the challenging weather conditions and equipment issues, the IndiGo pilot decided to continue to Srinagar rather than divert to Amritsar airport, a move that has raised eyebrows within the Indian Air Force.
“The pilot and crew had the option of landing at Amritsar Airport, but that option was not exercised,” IAF sources said, expressing concern that a safer alternative was overlooked. They also confirmed that the Indian Air Force supported the pilot in ensuring a safe landing at Srinagar, despite the aircraft’s technical difficulties.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has since issued a statement confirming that the incident is under investigation.
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