IndiGo flight from Delhi lands in Pakistan after medical emergency

An Indigo flight that departed Delhi, India, was forced to land in Pakistan after a passenger onboard became unwell.

The IndiGo flight 6E-1736 was on its way to Doha, Qatar, on March 11, 2023, when it was forced to divert to Jinnah International Airport (KHI) in Karachi.

Due to political tensions between India and Pakistan there are no direct flights between the two countries.

The IndiGo Airbus A320 left Delhi at 9:50pm and landed in Karachi about 30 minutes later when the pilot informed air traffic control that a 60-year-old passenger was unwell.

The Independent reported that the passenger was a Nigerian national and despite the aircraft being met by a medical team the passenger sadly died.

“We are deeply saddened by the news and our prayers and wishes are with his family and loved ones,” a spokesperson for IndiGo said.

The deceased reportedly left on the plane to Doha at 4am after Pakistani authorities handed over a death certificate.

According to the BBC flights between India and Pakistan restarted in July 2019 for six months before they were stopped again.