Asger Risom
A commercial flight with 200 passengers turned into a terrifying ordeal after severe turbulence and a hailstorm damaged the aircraft mid-air.
What should have been a routine domestic flight from Delhi to Srinagar this Tuesday ended in fear and chaos, as a storm system swept across the aircraft’s path. Operated by Indian budget airline IndiGo, the plane encountered violent weather shortly after takeoff, forcing the crew to initiate an emergency landing.
Videos from inside the cabin show passengers gripping seats and crying out in fear as the aircraft shook violently, with flashes of lightning illuminating the cabin through the windows.
Outside, the storm’s hail was so intense it punched a visible hole into the plane’s fuselage just beneath the cockpit.
Emergency landing, no injuries
According to multiple reports, the pilot contacted air traffic control and requested priority clearance to land. Despite the visible damage and ongoing turbulence, the plane landed safely at Srinagar Airport. No injuries were reported among the roughly 200 passengers.
“It was terrifying, and I’m still in shock
Owais Hakeem, one of the passengers, speaking to the Daily Mail.
Photos circulating on social media show the battered nose of the aircraft, evidence of the storm’s force. The airline has not yet released a full statement, but the incident is expected to trigger an internal investigation and aircraft inspection.
While no one was hurt, the event is a stark reminder of how rapidly weather conditions can escalate mid-flight—and how critical both pilot training and aircraft resilience are in averting disaster.