DGCA has ordered a probe to investigate why the pilots chose to fly into the hailstorm instead of diverting to Amritsar or Pathankot after being refused permission to fly westwards.

While cruising at around 36,000 feet near Pathankot in Punjab, the aircraft entered a thunderstorm zone. The crew first contacted the Indian Air Force-controlled northern air traffic control (ATC) seeking permission to deviate towards Pakistani airspace to bypass the storm.

The Airbus A321neo aircraft operating the flight, 6E  2142, with over 220 people on board had hit a severe hailstorm on its way to Srinagar from Delhi, which led to a turbulent few minutes for those on board.