An Airbus A321 en route from Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi) to Srinagar encountered a severe hailstorm on May 21 (local time in India), leading to a terrifying experience for its passengers.
The extreme weather caused the plane to shake violently, and a flock of birds then struck the aircraft’s head, resulting in a substantial hole in the nose, posing a significant threat to the safety of the 227 passengers and crew on board, as reported by Metro.co.uk and NDTV.
The IndiGo Airbus A321 suffered damage during the hailstorm. Image: SWNS
Video footage circulating on social media captured the chaotic scene inside flight 6E2142, with passengers, including children, screaming and crying in panic.
The pilots promptly declared an emergency to air traffic control at Srinagar Airport.
Fortunately, after enduring violent shaking and continuous thunder, the flight landed safely at Srinagar Airport at 6:30 p.m. local time.
Passenger Owais Maqbool described a “miracle” that brought over 200 people on flight 6E2142 “back from the dead.” He recounted the frightening experience on X: “I was on the flight returning home to Srinagar from Delhi… It was a near-death experience… The plane’s nose was damaged. Passengers were screaming in panic. Everyone was terrified.”
IndiGo airline confirmed that the crew of flight 6E2142 followed the established procedures, and all passengers were safe. They are being commended for their skillful handling of the situation, which averted a potential disaster.
“Flight 6E 2142 encountered sudden hail while on air. The pilots followed the laid down standard operating procedures and landed safely at Srinagar. All passengers were deplaned safely, and the aircraft is currently being inspected by our engineering team,” the airline stated, without specifying the extent of the damage to the plane.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Delhi experienced a severe storm that evening, with wind gusts up to 49 mph, causing extensive damage, including fallen trees, flash floods, and severe traffic disruptions.
Just a few hours earlier, the capital city had sweltered under scorching heat with a “feels like” temperature of 122.4°F due to a combination of high temperatures and humidity. The day’s highest temperature reached 105.3°F, exceeding the average by 1°F.
The extreme weather also severely impacted air travel at Delhi Airport and caused lengthy delays for Yellow Line metro passengers. Several areas in Noida reported broken glass and fallen signboards due to the strong winds.
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