Severe Weather and Delayed Re-routing Blamed for Damage, DGCA Probe Finds
DGCA investigation attributes IndiGo flight’s radome damage in May to severe weather and delayed rerouting action.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has identified severe weather and delayed re-routing as the probable causes behind the damage sustained by IndiGo’s Delhi-Srinagar flight on May 21, according to findings presented in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
The IndiGo flight 6E-2142, operated by an Airbus A321 neo aircraft bearing registration VT-IMD, encountered extreme weather conditions including hail and turbulence while cruising en route from Delhi to Srinagar. Upon landing, the aircraft was found to have damage to its nose radome, an essential component housing radar equipment.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol detailed that the DGCA investigation revealed the critical factor was the non-timely decision to re-route the aircraft to avoid severe weather. Initially, the flight crew considered returning but, being close to a thunderstorm cloud, opted to penetrate the adverse weather instead. This decision resulted in exposure to hailstorm and severe turbulence.
Also Read: IndiGo Flight Halts Take-Off, Passengers Safe!
During the flight, multiple warnings triggered in the aircraft cockpit, including Angle of Attack faults, loss of Alternate Law protections, and unreliable backup speed scales. The autopilot disengaged due to severe updrafts and downdrafts, causing wide variations in airspeed and repeated stall warnings, alongside alerts for exceeding maximum operating speeds.
The crew had requested permission to enter Pakistan airspace to circumvent turbulence, but this was denied, complicating navigation options.
This incident highlights the challenges faced by flight crews in severe weather conditions and underscores the importance of timely re-routing decisions to ensure passenger safety and aircraft integrity.
