Hailstorm Panic: Passengers Fear for Their Lives on IndiGo Flight

When the IndiGo flight unexpectedly encountered severe turbulence and hail, fear gripped passengers as they believed their lives were in jeopardy, leading to a dramatic prayer-filled atmosphere mid-air.

On a recent IndiGo flight from New Delhi to Srinagar, passengers faced a terrifying ordeal as the plane was hit by a sudden hailstorm, with many fearing for their lives. Sheikh Samiullah, a regular flyer, described the chaos that ensued when the pilot instructed passengers to fasten their seatbelts moments before the plane jolted violently. Confusion erupted within the cabin as passengers screamed and the flight attendants were seen crying.

“We thought it was our last flight; we thought we were going to die," Samiullah, 33, recalled after surviving the relentless turbulence that persisted for five to six minutes. The turbulence caused the plane to plunge unexpectedly, leading passengers to recite prayers in various languages. Samiullah shared a video of the panic-filled moments on social media, highlighting the disbelief surrounding their situation.

After the mayhem, the aircraft miraculously landed safely in Srinagar, despite passengers discovering significant damage to the nose of the plane from the hail. IndiGo confirmed the presence of a “sudden hailstorm” that disrupted their flight. The statement reiterated that the flight and cabin crew adhered strictly to safety protocols, ensuring a safe landing.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, hail and turbulence are amongst the most significant dangers faced by aircraft during thunderstorms. The agency explains that hail can accumulate and grow larger, posing a serious threat to aircraft integrity in mere seconds. The potential for damage can be severe, as passenger aircraft are not built to withstand such impacts without sustaining harm.

Hailstorms can often occur miles away from thunderstorms, making it critical for pilots to rely on sophisticated weather radar systems to navigate around hazardous conditions. The risks of severe turbulence were highlighted last year when a Singapore Airlines flight faced catastrophic turbulence resulting in injuries and a fatality.

Reports from this challenging flight underscore the crucial need for stringent weather monitoring in aviation, emphasizing the unpredictability of severe weather phenomena.