Lightning Hit Diverts Lahore-bound Gulf Air Flight to Delhi

[Abbas Ali]

Lightning strike diverted Bahrain to Lahore Gulf Air flight GF-766 to Delhi Airport on March 1.

The aircraft damaged by lightning hit landed safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport - Delhi.

Flight GF-766 on March 1 was performed by Gulf Air Airbus A330-243 registration A9C-KD.

http://www.flightradar24.com/data/airplanes/a9c-kd/

The aircraft was carrying 214 passengers.

GF-766 was scheduled to land at Lahore Airport at 7:05 PM on March 1. The flight landed in Delhi around 10:45 PM Pakistan Standard Time.

GF-766 had departed from Bahrain with a delay of two hours and thirty-two minutes.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

PIA has offered to send its aircraft to Delhi to transport stranded passengers of flight GF-766 from Delhi to Lahore, according to news sources.

Passengers were kept aboard Gulf Air aircraft for ten hours at Delhi Airport, according to news sources.

PIA station manager in Delhi has been advised to take care of more than two-hundred Pakistani passengers of GF-766.

If required PIA aircraft should be sent to Delhi to bring Pakistani passengers to Lahore, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has advised relevant authorities.

Pakistan High Commission in Delhi also advised to look after Pakistani passengers of GF-766.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

From GF-766 flight path, it seems the aircraft approached Lahore Airport then climbed and diverted to Delhi.


Source: flightradar24.com

Yesterday, weather was rainy with lightning in Lahore.

Abbas

[TAILWIND]

Why should the flight divert to Delhi. Given the immigration and other issues, wouldn't be preferable to divert to the county of destination and not a third country. ISB, MUX or even KHI should have been a better option.

[umar744]

yes my young brother's deaf friend Mr. Shahzad Akram flew GF766 from BAH to LHE diverted to DEL and my brother waited at LHE airport for him but did not back. How did TG345 HS-TEU successful landed LHE ? is GF766 stranded in DEL or fly back to LHE or what do?

[Abbas Ali]

^ Umar, the A330 is still present at Delhi Airport.

A Gulf Air engineering team has been dispatched to Delhi to repair the aircraft, according to news sources.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

GF-766 now expected to land at Lahore Airport at 4:30 AM on March 3 with a delay of over thirty-three hours.


Source: lahoreairport.com.pk

GF-766 encountered rain with lightning when it approached Lahore Airport on March 1, according to a news channel.

Abbas

[iTechno8]

Mr. Abbas, me and 2 other VATSIM (Pakistan vACC) pilots and controllers were listening to LiveATC at the time Gulf Air 766 was overhead Lahore (LA) airspace, and I assure you, the aircraft was not hit by lightning. Gulf Air 766 was 30 miles from touchdown and FL70 when Lahore Approach cleared it for the ILS RWY36R approach, but most likely due to being too high, the aircraft initiated a go-around, and went into Indian airspace to avoid critical weather most probably. Once back in Pakistani Airspace (Lahore FIR) it requested for a hold over position LEMOM, and waited around 20-25 minutes for weather to clear up. Once it became evident that the weather at Lahore would not be improving, it requested Lahore Control:

"Lahore Control, Gulf Air 766 request diversion to Dehli", on which Lahore Control instructed the flight to proceed DCT to position SAMAR, and stop climb at FL250, due to Dehli Control Orders.

Hope this clears the confusion up

yes my young brother's deaf friend Mr. Shahzad Akram flew GF766 from BAH to LHE diverted to DEL and my brother waited at LHE airport for him but did not back. How did TG345 HS-TEU successful landed LHE ? is GF766 stranded in DEL or fly back to LHE or what do?

Mr. Umar, Thai 345 landed around 30-45 minutes after GFA766, and made the RNAV approach for 18L, as 2 previous aircraft had also successfully made the same Approach 10 minutes earlier. The pilot was first reluctant to land in such conditions, but once he got the runway conditions from previous landing Shaheen A330 AP-BKM decided to make the approach and landing.

--

Shujaa Imran
Director PR & Membership PIA Virtual
S3 Controller Pakistan vACC

[Abbas Ali]

^ Thank you Shujaa for the info. So, it seems the aircraft developed some technical fault after landing in Delhi or the lightning strike damage was found after landing in Delhi?

Anyway, flight GF-766 was able to depart from Delhi and landed at Lahore Airport today at 10:35 AM with a delay of over thirty-nine hours. The A330 completed flight from Delhi to Lahore in fifty-four minutes.


Source: lahoreairport.com.pk


Source: flightradar24.com

Some more info on The Aviation Herald on following link:

http://avherald.com/h?article=48293ea1&opt=0

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Passengers remained aboard Gulf Air A330 for over eight hours at Delhi Airport before they were accommodated near gate number 15 of transit lounge of Terminal 3 of Delhi Airport.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/ ... 694784.ece

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 436075.cms

The A330 approached Lahore Airport and then flew holding pattern near Lahore before climbing and diverting to Delhi.

Holding pattern flown by GF-766.

Source: flightradar24.com

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Most of the passengers of GF-766 interviewed by PTV News after their arrival at Lahore Airport said that after coming out of the aircraft they were treated well by authorities at Delhi Airport.

A passenger was saying that weather was very bad when pilot decided to divert flight to Delhi.

Abbas

[umar744]

yes good great news my deaf friend Shahzad Akram said that excellent flight wonderful very enjoyed good time upgrade business class happy smile diverted first time in Delhi and very interest view sightseeing tour inside airpot and lounge and lovely food and beautiful cafe excellent services no problem.