An IndiGo flight en route from New Delhi to Srinagar faced a terrifying mid-air ordeal when it was struck by a sudden hailstorm, causing intense turbulence and damaging the aircraft’s nose. Despite the chaos, the flight managed a safe landing in Srinagar, with all passengers unharmed.
The airline confirmed that the incident occurred on Wednesday during the short 90-minute flight, attributing the ordeal to an unexpected weather disturbance. “The crew followed standard safety procedures, and the aircraft landed safely,” IndiGo stated. However, images later revealed a gaping hole in the nose cone of the aircraft.
Delhi had been experiencing heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning that night. Onboard footage captured by passenger Sheikh Samiullah showed widespread panic—screams echoed, children cried, and overhead bins rattled as the plane shuddered violently.
“We were just 30 minutes from Srinagar when the pilot asked us to fasten seatbelts,” Samiullah said. “The turbulence was so bad, I thought it was my last flight.”
While passengers were deeply shaken, they expressed immense gratitude to the pilot for landing the plane safely. “After seeing the damage post-landing, it was even more disturbing,” he added.
Aviation expert Mary Schiavo noted that hailstorms can severely damage planes, sometimes without warning. “Weather can strike suddenly, and pilots must often switch to manual control. Despite the damage, planes are remarkably resilient,” she said.
This incident underscores growing concerns about extreme weather and its impact on aviation.
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