Video shows panic as plane shakes midair
Footage from inside the cabin showed passengers crying out in fear as the aircraft shook violently. The pilot later informed passengers that wind speeds had reached 80 kmph, forcing a climb to higher altitude to avoid danger.
Delhi airport issues advisory
The turbulence occurred as Delhi and NCR were hit by a sudden dust storm, accompanied by rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds. The Delhi airport issued an advisory warning passengers of potential delays due to inclement weather.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the storm was triggered by a fast-moving cloud cluster and winds gusting up to 76 kmph in some areas. Palam recorded gusts of 65 kmph around 4:30 pm, while winds at Pragati Maidan peaked at 76 kmph.
Delhi braces for rain, thunderstorms
IMD attributed the sudden storm to a combination of atmospheric disturbances, including a Western Disturbance over north Pakistan, a cyclonic circulation over Haryana, and moisture-laden winds from the Arabian Sea. The department also forecast more thunderstorms and gusty winds (40–50 kmph) for Monday.
Sharp drop in temperature
The storm brought much-needed relief from the heat, with temperatures dropping by up to 14°C in parts of Delhi. At Safdarjung, mercury levels fell from 37°C at 3:30 pm to 23°C by 5:30 pm, according to IMD records.
Earlier incident: IndiGo flight nose damaged
Just days earlier, another IndiGo flight—6E 2142 from Delhi to Srinagar—declared an emergency midair after encountering a severe hailstorm. With 227 people on board, the flight reported the situation to Srinagar ATC before landing safely at 6:30 pm.
