IndiGo Flight Returns to Delhi After Airspace Complications
An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Manchester returned 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 faced by airlines operating in regions with unstable airspace.
IndiGo’s London-Mumbai flight was also diverted to Cairo for similar reasons, indicating a broader issue affecting international flights. The aircraft used for the Manchester flight was a Boeing 787-9 leased from Norse Atlantic Airways.
On March 8, 2026, IndiGo had partially resumed flights to Europe after more than a week of grounding due to airspace restrictions following airstrikes between U.S.-Israel and Iran. The airline is currently working with relevant authorities to explore the possibilities of resuming the journey for affected passengers.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the specific nature of the airspace complications in Eritrea, which have led to these operational challenges. Observers are keenly watching how IndiGo navigates these issues in the coming days, especially with a scheduled departure for the diverted flight on March 10.
