The DGCA stated on Friday that the crew of an IndiGo flight from the national capital to Srinagar requested permission to enter Pakistani airspace on Wednesday to avoid turbulence, but the request was denied.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed in a thorough statement that the aircraft’s “nose radome” was damaged but that no passengers were hurt on the flight.
The DGCA is looking into the incident when the aircraft encountered turbulence.
IndiGo’s A321 Neo aircraft, which was flying flight 6E 2142, ran into strong turbulence and hailstorms on Wednesday close to Pathankot.
According to the crew’s testimony, they asked Northern Control (IAF) for permission to deviate to the left (the International Border) because of the weather, but their request was denied.
“Later, the crew contacted Lahore to enter their airspace to avoid the weather, but the same was refused too,” claimed the DGCA.
The regulator claims that the crew first tried to head back but chose to break through the weather because they were near a thunderstorm.
“Subsequently, they encountered hailstorms and severe turbulence. The crew chose to continue at the same heading to exit the weather by the shortest route towards Srinagar,” the statement said.
According to a report published by PTI on Thursday, the Lahore ATC denied the flight pilot’s request to use Pakistani airspace to escape turbulence.
