Passengers Scream After Their Plane is Struck by ‘One Natural Disaster After Another’

‘We were praying for our lives,’ says survivor as cabin fills with screams and flashes of lightning

A routine flight turned into a harrowing nightmare for 227 passengers over India this week, when a commercial jet was battered mid-air by not one—but three—natural disasters in rapid succession. The aircraft, en route from New Delhi to Srinagar on Wednesday, was struck by lightning, slammed by hail, and even hit by a bird, causing major external damage and sheer panic inside.

‘People Were Crying and Screaming’

Cell phone footage from inside the cabin shows passengers yelling and clinging to seats as the plane violently shudders mid-flight. Flashes of lightning lit up the cabin like strobe lights, while overhead bins rattled and fear spread through the cabin like wildfire.

“It was a war zone in the sky,” said 28-year-old Owais Hakeem, who had just boarded the flight to return home to Srinagar. “The turbulence was unlike anything I’ve experienced. I’m still shaking.”

Another passenger, Aaqib Khan, praised the flight crew for keeping their composure while chaos erupted. “We were screaming, some people were praying. Hats off to the pilot and REMITA crew. They held it together while the rest of us fell apart.”

Aircraft Damage ‘Significant’ but No Injuries Reported

Images taken after the plane’s emergency landing in Srinagar show the aircraft’s nose cone torn open—likely the result of either hail impact or the bird strike. Aviation experts say the nose of a plane, which houses sensitive radar equipment, is especially vulnerable during weather events.

The crew declared a weather emergency and was in constant contact with air traffic controllers in Srinagar throughout the ordeal. After 75 agonizing minutes in the air, the aircraft managed to land safely to cheers and tears from those onboard.

While the passengers escaped without injury, aviation analysts are calling the incident a “multi-threat emergency scenario” that could have ended far worse.

Storms in Indian Airspace on the Rise

This latest aviation scare comes as India has seen a spike in severe weather patterns affecting flight routes, especially during pre-monsoon months. According to the India Meteorological Department, sudden hailstorms and electrical storms have become more frequent, especially in the northern corridors.

In fact, just last summer, an Austrian Airlines flight had its nose shredded and cockpit windows cracked after being ambushed by a hailstorm over Europe. That plane, too, landed safely—but with significant damage.

Time for a Wake-Up Call?

Aviation safety experts are warning that as global climate patterns grow more erratic, airlines need to revisit how they assess and avoid storm cells—especially over volatile regions like northern India.

“There was a time when pilots could rely on forecasts and radar. Now, conditions can turn deadly in a matter of minutes,” said Captain Mark Delaney, a retired U.S. commercial pilot. “This was a textbook case of everything going wrong at once—and the crew deserves credit for keeping it from becoming a tragedy.”

As for the damaged aircraft, it’s now grounded and awaiting a full structural inspection by safety engineers.

Meanwhile, for the 227 passengers, the terror in the skies is still fresh.

“I don’t know if I’ll fly again anytime soon,” said one visibly shaken passenger. “That flight felt like the end.”