NEW DELHI: Passengers aboard an IndiGo flight from New Delhi to Manchester experienced a grueling 14-hour “journey to nowhere” on Monday, after the aircraft was forced to make a mid-air U-turn and return to the Indian capital. The disruption was triggered by sudden airspace restrictions resulting from the intensifying conflict in West Asia.
The IndiGo flight, operated by Norwegian carrier Norse as a partner, turned around while flying near the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea, tracking portal wrote on X.
A Seven-Hour Diversion
Flight 6E 033, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner leased from Norwegian carrier Norse Atlantic Airways, departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport at approximately 12:30 AM. In an effort to bypass the conflict zone in the Persian Gulf, the flight had already taken a significantly longer Southern route over the Arabian Sea and into Africa.
However, after nearly seven hours of flying—reaching the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea—the crew received notice of last-minute airspace closures. Faced with no viable alternative path due to strict safety advisories, the aircraft reversed course. It eventually touched down back in Delhi around 2:30 PM, effectively landing 14 hours after its initial departure.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates
Click Here for Chhattisgarh News
Click Here for Entertainment News