Passengers aboard an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Manchester faced an unexpected disruption on Monday after the aircraft was forced to return to its departure point nearly seven hours into the journey. The flight, 6E 033, had taken off from New Delhi for Manchester in the United Kingdom but had to head back following strict airspace restrictions.
According to flight-tracking platform Flightradar24, the aircraft turned around near the Ethiopia–Eritrea border while flying over Africa. The service was being operated in partnership with Norse Atlantic Airways, a Norwegian airline. Explaining the development, an IndiGo spokesperson said, “Due to the evolving situation in and around the Middle East, some of our flights may take longer routes or experience diversions.”
Rising West Asia conflict disrupts global aviation
The disruption occurred due to the rising tensions post attack. The conflict, which began on February 28th, has now rapidly spread across the Gulf region and is affecting countries like Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain. Airspace across parts of the region has been partially closed, forcing airlines worldwide to reroute flights or cancel services.
The airline further said, “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.”
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The spokesperson added, “We are working with the relevant authorities to explore possibilities of resuming the journey.”
As geopolitical tensions continue to disrupt airspace in the Middle East, airlines are being forced to alter routes or cancel flights. IndiGo, keeping in mind passenger safety, stated, “Safety and security of our customers, crew and aircraft is of utmost importance to us.”
