Delhi, June 2 - On the evening of June 1, 2025, an IndiGo flight from Raipur to Delhi, designated as flight 6E 6313, encountered severe turbulence caused by a sudden dust storm, forcing the pilot to abort landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The aircraft, an Airbus A321neo (Reg. VT-IRV), was moments from touchdown when powerful winds, reaching speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour, swept across the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), accompanied by a dust storm and intermittent rainfall. The abrupt weather shift created hazardous conditions, prompting the pilot to make a critical decision to prioritize passenger safety by discontinuing the landing approach.
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As the aircraft neared the runway, the pilot announced the extreme wind speeds and initiated a go-around, a standard aviation maneuver where the plane climbs back into the sky to circle until conditions stabilize. The turbulence rocked the aircraft, creating tense moments for passengers aboard. The plane circled above the airport for approximately 40 minutes, waiting for the storm to subside. Once weather conditions improved, the aircraft landed safely at 5:43 pm, though the delay and mid-air ordeal left passengers shaken but unharmed. The pilot’s swift response and adherence to safety protocols ensured that no injuries or damage to the aircraft occurred during this incident.
The dust storm that disrupted the flight was part of a larger weather event impacting Delhi-NCR. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that an east-southeastward-moving cloud cluster triggered the storm, bringing gusty winds, thunderstorms, and light rain to southern parts of the capital. Wind speeds were recorded at 66 kmph in Safdarjung, 76 kmph in Pragati Maidan, 65 kmph in Palam, and 37 kmph in Jharoda Kalan between 4:45 pm and 5:30 pm. This sudden weather change not only affected flight 6E 6313 but also caused widespread disruptions at Delhi’s airport, one of India’s busiest aviation hubs. Between 5:00 pm and 5:30 pm, four flights were diverted—two to Jaipur, one to Chandigarh, and one to Amritsar—while over 350 flights faced delays throughout the evening, according to flight tracking data.
This incident follows another recent IndiGo flight disruption on May 21, 2025, when a Delhi-to-Srinagar flight (6E 2142) encountered severe turbulence due to a hailstorm near Pathankot, damaging the aircraft’s nose cone. That flight also landed safely, but the recurrence of such events underscores the challenges posed by unpredictable weather patterns in North India, particularly during the pre-monsoon season. The June 1 incident highlights the vulnerability of air travel to extreme weather and the critical role of skilled pilots and air traffic control in ensuring passenger safety. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is likely to review the event as part of standard procedure, though no formal investigation has been announced. As climate patterns shift, such incidents serve as a reminder of the need for enhanced weather forecasting and robust aviation safety measures.