IndiGo Pilot Issues 'PAN PAN' Alert, Lands Turbulence-Hit Flight Safely in Srinagar
IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar hit severe turbulence; pilot issued 'PAN PAN' call and landed safely amid storm. No injuries reported.
A strong hailstorm and dust storm over northern India generated extreme turbulence on Wednesday, causing a dramatic in-flight emergency for an IndiGo flight from New Delhi to Srinagar. The safe landing of every passenger in Srinagar was guaranteed by the pilot's prompt reaction and observance of emergency procedures.
Emergency Alert Is Triggered by Midair Turbulence
The incident happened in the midst of severe weather that was affecting the Delhi-NCR area. During its 36,000-foot cruise near Pathankot, Punjab, the aircraft experienced strong turbulence and hail hit, resulting in external damage.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated that as the plane started descending at a speed of 8,500 feet per minute, the situation became severe. In this stage, the cockpit crew decided to operate the aircraft manually, ultimately sending out a “PAN PAN” call, which is an international urgency signal that denotes a problem that needs attention but is not yet an emergency.
Refused Pakistani Airspace Request
At first, the flight crew asked for a detour into Pakistani territory to avoid the turbulence. India's Northern Air Force Control and Pakistan's Lahore Air Traffic Control, however, refuted this, stating that Pakistani airspace is still closed to Indian aircraft because of diplomatic difficulties.
According to the DGCA statement, "Due to unfavorable weather, they requested Northern control (IAF) for a deviation towards the International Border, which was denied." Additionally, a later plea to Lahore ATC was turned down.
Making the decision to travel to Srinagar
With few alternatives and the storm zone already approaching, the aircraft crew chose not to head back to Delhi. Instead, they decided to move on in the direction of Srinagar. After then, the plane reached the storm, where it experienced severe turbulence and onboard equipment began to issue warnings. Among the more than 220 passengers, panic apparently broke out.
Despite the difficulties, a safe landing
In spite of the terrifying event, the crew remained in charge and adhered to all safety procedures. They notified Srinagar Air Traffic Control of a "PAN PAN" scenario after leaving the storm zone and asked for radar guidance for landing.
The plane made a safe landing in Srinagar, according to the DGCA, and no injuries were recorded. Nevertheless, a post-flight examination showed external damage, notably to the radome on the aircraft's nose.
