IndiGo Delhi-Manchester flight forced to turn back midway after ‘confusion’ over Eritrean airspace

Flight data reviewed by The Print suggests the aircraft skirted the conflict region and was then asked to turn back after reportedly encountering a permit-related confusion with Eritrean ATC.

Representational image — File photo of an Indigo Airbus A320 | Wikimedia Commons

New Delhi: An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Manchester became a 14-hour ordeal for passengers after it returned to its origin airport, having flown for over eight hours and crossed the conflict-affected Persian Gulf region.

The flight, 6E 033, turned back near the Eriteria-Ethiopia border and landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport around 2.30 pm Indian time Monday after taking off at around 12:30 am. This was the first IndiGo Delhi-Manchester flight since the 26 Februrary, according Flightradar24.

In its statement shared with ThePrint, IndiGo said the diversion resulted from the situation in and around the Middle East.

“Our flight 6E 033 operating from Delhi to Manchester had to return to its origin due to last-minute airspace restrictions, owing to the ongoing situation in West Asia. We are working with the relevant authorities to explore the possibilities of resuming the journey. As always, the safety and security of our customers, crew and aircraft is of utmost importance to us,” the statement said.

Flight path of Indigo 6E-033, as recorded by Flightradar24. Map data by Google

Flight data reviewed by The Print suggests that the aircraft skirted the conflict region and was then asked to turn back after reportedly encountering a permit-related confusion with Eritrean air traffic control (ATC).

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, bearing tail number LN-FNC, was leased from Norwegian carrier Norse Atlantic Airways. Most of IndiGo’s fleet is on operating leases, which are contractual agreements.

Sources familiar with the matter said that when the aircraft entered Eritrean airspace, a discrepancy between the call sign and aircraft registration triggered a query from ATC, leading to the turnaround.

Authorities in Eritrea were reportedly unclear about the involvement of two airlines linked to the same aircraft—the owner, Norse, and the operator, IndiGo—which led to the diversion.

IndiGo had clarified in its permit the carrier under which the aircraft was operating. However, because the route was unprecedented, due to West Asia airspace restrictions and air traffic control confusion, the flight had to turn back after being airborne for eight hours.

IndiGo resumed partial operations on 8 March after a gap of a week owing to rising tensions in the Middle East.

(Edited by Shashank Kishan)