Srinagar-bound IndiGo flight caught in hailstorm, lands safely

A Srinagar-bound IndiGo flight from Delhi with more than 220 people, including TMC MPs, on board encountered sudden hailstorm on Wednesday, prompting the pilot to report the "emergency" to air traffic control at Srinagar. The aircraft later landed safely in Srinagar at 6.30pm.and has been grounded, officials said.Videos of the moments of turbulence shared on social media showed panic-stricken passengers could be heard making religious supplications as the plane swayed.

I had a narrow escape while flying from Delhi to Srinagar. Flight number #6E2142. Hats off to the captain for the safe landing.@IndiGo6E pic.twitter.com/tNEKwGOT4q

— Sheikh Samiullah (@_iamsamiullah) May 21, 2025

"IndiGo flight 6E 2142 operating from Delhi to Srinagar encountered sudden hailstorm en route. The flight and cabin crew followed established protocol and the aircraft landed safely in Srinagar," the airline said in a statement."The airport team attended to the customers after arrival of aircraft prioritizing their wellbeing and comfort. The aircraft will be released post necessary inspection and maintenance," it added.
A hailstorm accompanied by heavy rain with wind speed of 79 kmph lashed Delhi-NCR late Wednesday evening, causing tree felling, waterlogging and traffic jams in several areas, after the city endured a hot and humid day.In the three hours between 5.30pm and 8.3pm, Safdarjung recorded 12.2 mm of rainfall, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).The IMD said a cyclonic circulation over Haryana and its neighbouring areas, embedded in an east-west trough extending from Punjab to Bangladesh in the lower tropospheric levels, is influencing the weather. Moisture is feeding into the system from both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, it added.The severe hailstorm caused chaos in the city, blocking traffic on key roads like Delhi-Noida, Delhi-Ghaziabad, Delhi-Gurugram, and uprooted many trees. Two persons  lost their lives, while at least 11 others were injured in separate incidents linked to the sudden rainfall in Delhi on Wednesday evening, PTI reported citing police. 
Due to the heavy rain and thunderstorm, at least 13 flights at Delhi airport were diverted on Wednesday. Sources told PTI that 12 flights were redirected to Jaipur, while one international flight was rerouted to Mumbai, causing significant disruption to flight operations.