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, including the return.
Reason for Return
The return was necessitated by confusion at air traffic control in Eritrea regarding a permit filed by IndiGo. The flight faced approval issues from Eritrean authorities after a risk assessment, which led to the decision to turn back.
IndiGo 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.” The airline is currently working with relevant authorities to explore the possibilities of resuming the journey.
Other Affected Flights
In addition to the Delhi-Manchester flight, IndiGo’s London-Mumbai flight was also diverted to Cairo for similar reasons. The airline had partially resumed flights to Europe on March 8, 2026, after more than a week of grounding due to airspace restrictions following airstrikes between U.S.-Israel and Iran.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft used for the flight was a Boeing 787-9 leased from Norse Atlantic Airways. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the next steps for the affected flights, but a scheduled departure for the diverted flight is set for March 10.
