An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Manchester had to return to Delhi after being airborne for nearly eight hours due to airspace complications.
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 situation has been exacerbated by recent airstrikes between U.S.-Israel and Iran, which had previously grounded IndiGo’s European services.
In addition to the Manchester flight, IndiGo’s London-Mumbai flight was also diverted to Cairo for similar reasons. The aircraft used for the Manchester route was a Boeing 787-9 leased from Norse Atlantic Airways.
IndiGo had partially resumed flights to Europe on March 8, 2026, after more than a week of disruptions. The airline is currently working with relevant authorities to explore the possibilities of resuming the journey for affected passengers.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact nature of the airspace complications and the anticipated timeline for resolving the issues. As the situation develops, travelers are advised to stay updated on their flight statuses and any potential changes to itineraries.
