IndiGo Flight Returns to Delhi
An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Manchester was forced to return to Delhi after being airborne for nearly eight hours due to airspace complications in Eritrea. The flight, operating under flight number 6E 033, took off from Delhi at 12:30 a.m. and landed back in Delhi at 2:30 p.m., resulting in a total journey time of 14 hours.
The return was necessitated by confusion at air traffic control in Eritrea regarding a permit filed by IndiGo. The airline stated, “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.” This incident highlights the complexities airlines face amid geopolitical tensions.
Additionally, IndiGo’s London-Mumbai flight was also diverted to Cairo for similar reasons. The aircraft used for the Manchester flight was a Boeing 787-9 leased from Norse Atlantic Airways, which has been part of IndiGo’s strategy to partially resume flights to Europe after more than a week of grounding due to airspace restrictions following airstrikes between the U.S.-Israel and Iran.
IndiGo had only resumed its European services on March 8, 2026, before this incident occurred. The airline is currently working with relevant authorities to explore the possibilities of resuming the journey, as stated in their communications.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding how the airline will address the ongoing airspace challenges and what measures will be taken to ensure passenger safety and compliance with international regulations.
