An IndiGo flight (6E2702) from Ayodhya to Delhi on April 13th had a tense experience after being forced to divert to Chandigarh due to bad weather in Delhi. The incident has raised concerns about passenger safety, with allegations that IndiGo might have strayed from Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Delays and Diversion Due to Bad Weather
The flight, scheduled to depart Ayodhya at 3:25 PM and arrive in Delhi by 4:30 PM, encountered bad weather as it approached the capital. The pilot announced about 15 minutes before landing that a safe touchdown in Delhi wouldn’t be possible.
The aircraft reportedly hovered around Delhi and attempted landing twice, but both efforts were unsuccessful. Passengers were informed at 4:15 PM that the flight had 45 minutes of holding fuel.
Anxiety and Concerns After Holding Pattern
According to passenger Satish Kumar, a significant amount of time passed after the two unsuccessful landing attempts in Delhi. He described this period as wasted time while a decision was made on the next course of action. Finally, at 5:30 PM, a full 75 minutes after the initial holding fuel announcement, the pilot declared a diversion to Chandigarh.
By this point, Kumar claims, panic had set in among some passengers and crew members, with a few becoming unwell.
Landing with Limited Fuel Raises Safety Questions
The flight finally managed to land at Chandigarh at 6:10 PM, a concerning 115 minutes after the holding fuel announcement. According to Kumar, passengers were informed upon landing that they had only 1 or 2 minutes of fuel remaining. This close call has sparked questions about whether IndiGo followed proper safety protocols during the situation.
Multiple Flights Affected by Weather
It’s important to note that Delhi’s IGI Airport experienced disruptions due to bad weather on Saturday evening, impacting flight operations. As many as 22 flights scheduled to land in Delhi between 3 PM and 6:30 PM were diverted to other cities. These diversions included nine to Jaipur, eight to Lucknow, two to Chandigarh, and one each to Amritsar, Ahmedabad, and Varanasi.