IndiGo jet drops 8,500 ft/min in storm after Pakistan denies airspace request

A terrifying in-flight emergency unfolded on an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar on Wednesday when the aircraft was forced into an emergency descent of 8,500 feet per minute after being denied entry into Pakistani airspace during a violent thunderstorm. The A321neo aircraft, carrying over 220 passengers including several Members of Parliament, encountered hail, system failures, and extreme turbulence.

The flight was cruising at 36,000 feet near Pathankot when pilots spotted an intense weather system ahead and requested a deviation via Pakistani airspace. Both Indian and Pakistani controllers denied the request, leaving the crew with little option but to fly directly into the storm. Once inside, the aircraft was battered by hailstones, triggering sensor malfunctions, multiple system faults, and a disengaged autopilot. Pilots switched to manual control as the plane began an alarming descent—far steeper than the normal descent rate of 1,500 to 3,000 feet per minute.

Despite severe turbulence and unreliable instrument readings, the crew declared a mid-air emergency and managed to stabilize the aircraft after clearing the storm. The flight continued to Srinagar, where it landed safely. The damage was visible, with hail having smashed the aircraft's nose cone. A formal investigation is now underway, and the aircraft remains grounded for technical inspections. Passengers, including TMC MPs, described the incident as a “near-death experience.”