Passengers aboard IndiGo Flight 6E2702 from Ayodhya to Delhi experienced a terrifying ordeal saturday, 13 April as their flight was forced to divert to Chandigarh after failed landing attempts due to severe weather at Delhi Airport. The incident, which unfolded late in the afternoon, has sparked calls for an investigation into the airline's adherence to safety protocols.
The scheduled 3:25 PM departure from Ayodhya was expected to be a routine hour-long flight to Delhi. However, as the aircraft approached the capital around 4:15 PM, the pilot notified passengers of bad weather conditions, assuring them that there was enough holding fuel for an additional 45 minutes. Despite this reassurance, anxiety grew as the pilot made two unsuccessful attempts to land the aircraft amidst deteriorating weather.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Satish Kumar accounts, significant time elapsed while the pilot deliberated on the next course of action. This indecision contributed to heightened tension and physical discomfort on board, with several passengers and even a crew member succumbing to panic-induced sickness.
It was only at 5:30 PM—75 minutes after the initial announcement regarding fuel levels—that the pilot decided to reroute to Chandigarh. The aircraft eventually touched down safely at Chandigarh Airport at 6:10 PM, nearly two hours after the problem first began and with only minutes of fuel to spare, as confirmed by the crew post-landing.
Eyewitnesses and passengers took to social media to share their harrowing accounts, questioning whether standard operating procedures (SOPs) were properly followed. Concerns were particularly focused on the significant delay in deciding to divert the flight and whether this put passengers at unnecessary risk.
In response to the uproar, IndiGo has not yet released a detailed statement regarding the incident. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) have been urged to conduct a thorough review to determine if there were any breaches in safety norms and to ensure that proper emergency measures are in place for future flights under similar circumstances.
This incident has once again highlighted the crucial importance of rigorous safety standards in aviation, especially regarding fuel management and decision-making protocols during emergencies. As the investigation unfolds, passengers and the public alike await answers, hoping that this near-miss prompts a reevaluation of safety practices across the board.