NewKerala.com

IndiGo Flight to Manchester Makes U-Turn Mid-Air Due to Middle East Airspace Closure

An IndiGo flight bound for Manchester from Delhi was forced to return to its origin after nearly seven hours in the air due to sudden airspace restrictions related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The airline confirmed the diversion was a safety precaution amid evolving regional tensions. The incident was tracked by Flightradar24, which showed the aircraft reversing course near the border of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Meanwhile, investor sentiment was impacted as IndiGo's stock price fell and crude oil prices surged above $100 per barrel due to the regional instability.

Key Points: IndiGo Flight Returns to Delhi Amid Middle East Airspace Restrictions

  • Flight 6E033 returned after 7 hours
  • Airspace restrictions due to Middle East conflict
  • Safety of passengers and crew cited as priority
  • IndiGo stock fell nearly 4%
  • Crude oil prices surged above $100/barrel
2 min read

Manchester-bound flight returns to origin amid closures in Middle East: IndiGo

An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Manchester returned after 7 hours due to sudden airspace closures linked to the Middle East conflict, impacting airline operations.

"Due to the evolving situation in and around the Middle East, some of our flights may take longer routes or experience diversions. - IndiGo Spokesperson"

New Delhi, March 9

IndiGo's Manchester-bound aircraft that departed from Delhi returned to its origin after spending almost seven hours in the air due to sudden airspace restrictions linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the low-cost airline confirmed on Monday.

According to an IndiGo spokesperson, flight 6E033 -- operating from Delhi to Manchester -- had to return due to "last-minute airspace restrictions."

"Due to the evolving situation in and around the Middle East, some of our flights may take longer routes or experience diversions," the official said.

"Our flight 6E 033 operating from Delhi to Manchester had to return to its origin because of last-minute airspace restrictions, owing to the ongoing situation in West Asia," the spokesperson added.

The airline further stated that it is working with relevant authorities to explore options for resuming the journey.

"As always, the safety and security of our customers, crew, and aircraft is of utmost importance to us," the IndiGo spokesperson said.

The incident was first flagged by Flightradar24 in a post on the social media platform X, which shared tracking data showing the aircraft reversing course and heading back toward India.

In another post, the flight tracker also provided information on the daily flight operations of major UAE airlines and Qatar Airways as of March 8. It stated that increased activity from Air Arabia, Emirates, and flydubai on Sunday, while Etihad and Qatar operated fewer flights than the day before."

"IndiGo flight 6E 033 (operated by Norse) made a U-turn on the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea and is returning to Delhi," according to the official statement.

"This was the first IndiGo Delhi-Manchester flight since February 26," it added.

Shares of InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) on Monday witnessed selling pressure, closing at Rs 4,236, down around 4 per cent on the BSE. The aviation stock touched an intraday low of Rs 4035.65 on the exchange, a decrease of 8.37 per cent from last week's closing.

Investor sentiment was hit by crude prices, which surged above $100 per barrel amid the Middle East conflict.

Crude oil prices nearly touched $110 per barrel after major Middle East producers reduced output, while the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed due to the Iran conflict.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
This is why I always buy travel insurance. Imagine being in the air for 7 hours only to land back in Delhi! The geopolitical situation is really messing with global travel. Feel for the passengers and crew.
A
Arjun K
The stock price drop is worrying. With crude crossing $100, ticket prices are going to shoot up again. Just when air travel was becoming slightly more affordable for the middle class. Tough times ahead for the aviation sector.
S
Sarah B
Respectfully, while safety is paramount, the communication to passengers could be better. Being in the air that long without a clear resolution must have been terrifying. Airlines need robust contingency plans for such geopolitical disruptions.
V
Vikram M
Strait of Hormuz closed? That's a major chokepoint for global oil. No wonder prices are soaring. This conflict is going to hit our economy hard - from flight tickets to petrol pumps. Government needs to strategise.
K
Kavya N
It's operated by Norse? Interesting. So it's a wet lease arrangement. Makes you wonder about the coordination between airlines in such crises. Hope the passengers get proper accommodation and food vouchers at least. Basic customer service, please!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50