IndiGo's mid-air horror triggers Shark Tank Kunal Bahl's 2008 nightmare when plane's nose wheel fell off. Who was with him?

Recenty an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar faced severe turbulence caused by a sudden hailstorm, forcing the pilot to declare an emergency midair. The plane, carrying more than 220 passengers, landed safely but left many shaken. This incident triggered Snapdeal co-founder and Shark Tank India judge Kunal Bahl to recall a frightening flight experience of his own, highlighting the unsettling realities of air travel emergencies.

Kunal Bahl Recalls Near-Disaster Flight in 2008
In a tweet responding to the IndiGo turbulence, Kunal Bahl shared how, back in 2008, he and fellow Snapdeal co-founder Rohit Bansal were aboard a flight that suffered a critical failure when the nose wheel detached during takeoff. The plane barely managed to land, narrowly avoiding disaster. Bahl noted that watching videos of turbulent flights brings back vivid memories of that traumatic event.

Expressing joy that everyone onboard the Indigo flight was safe, Bahl tweeted, "Glad everyone's safe! Everytime I see passenger recordings of these turbulent flights, it brings back the horrific memory of the flight @rohitkbansal & I were on in 2008, where the nosewheel fell off on takeoff and the flight barely landed, averting a near certain disaster."

Glad everyone's safe! 🙏🏼

Everytime I see passenger recordings of these turbulent flights, it brings back the horrific memory of the flight @rohitkbansal & I were on in 2008, where the nosewheel fell off on takeoff and the flight barely landed, averting a near certain disaster. https://t.co/xtxVkN8xCS pic.twitter.com/6i7H1xmgOa

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) May 22, 2025

Details of the IndiGo Flight Incident
The IndiGo flight en route to Srinagar encountered intense turbulence due to a hailstorm, prompting the pilot to report an emergency to air traffic control. Passengers recorded harrowing moments of the flight, with many praying aloud as the aircraft swayed.

Some passengers reported damage to the nose and right side of the plane, though IndiGo has not confirmed this officially. One passenger described the ordeal as a near-death experience and mentioned restricted access to parts of the aircraft after landing.

IndiGo’s Official Response
IndiGo released a statement affirming that the flight crew followed established safety protocols and ensured a safe landing despite the challenging conditions. The airline prioritized passenger well-being after arrival and confirmed the aircraft would undergo thorough inspection before being cleared to fly again. Airport authorities confirmed all passengers and crew were safe.