IndiGo’s Delhi–Manchester flight: A 14-hour journey to nowhere

An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Manchester was forced to turn back after being airborne for nearly eight hours over Ethiopia, even though the aircraft had completely skirted the conflict-affected Persian Gulf region, effectively turning the journey into a 14-hour flight that ended back where it began.

The airline attributed the diversion to “last-minute airspace restrictions.”

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This was the first IndiGo flight to Manchester since February 26, as the Boeing 787-8 aircraft leased from Norse Atlantic Airways falls under the jurisdiction of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which barred its carriers from flying over 11 countries in West Asia in an advisory issued on February 28 due to the airstrikes between Israel and Iran.

The Boeing 787 aircraft took off from Delhi at 12.30 a.m. on Monday (March 9, 2026). It avoided the entire Gulf region, and entered Africa through Ethiopia and was flying over Eritrea when it did a u-turn and started returning to Delhi. It landed at Delhi at 2.30 p.m..

“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. We are working with the relevant authorities to explore the possibilities of resuming the journey,” IndiGo said in a press statement.

The episode underscores the risks of operating long-haul flights while conflict disrupts one of aviation’s most critical corridors between Europe and Asia, highlighting the complex operational challenges airlines are navigating amid rapidly shifting airspace restrictions.

For passengers, the disruption can translate into flight cancellations, diversions, or significantly longer travel times, extended waiting at airports and a high degree of uncertainty around departures and arrivals, as airlines are forced to alter routes in response to evolving airspace advisories.