BBC reports that this occurred at
22:25 Zulu.
METAR's covering that period:
VOCI 29 0000Z 260/03KT 4000 HZ FEW008 SCT015 OVC080 26/24 Q1008 TEMPO VIS 2000M RA
VOCI 28 2330Z 280/05KT 4000 HZ FEW006 SCT015 OVC080 26/24 Q1008 NOSIG
VOCI 28 2300Z 000/00KT 4000 HZ FEW005 SCT015 OVC080 26/24 Q1008 NOSIG
VOCI 28 2130Z 290/05KT 3000 HZ SCT010 SCT080 26/24 Q1008 NOSIG
VOCI 28 2100Z 040/04KT 3000 HZ SCT010 BKN080 26/24 Q1008 NOSIG
Whilst not prejudging any reason for this incident, it does appear that there's a 1hr30min gap in METAR reports (
between 21:30Z and 23:00Z), this being at variance with what's required by '
ICAO / Annex 3 / Metrological Services For International Air Navigation' which states the following: "
Aerodrome reports include surface wind, visibility, runway visual range, present weather, cloud, air and dew-point temperature and atmospheric pressure, and are issued either half-hourly or hourly.", always remembering that
India is indeed a member of ICAO.
In the BBC's report it is stated that "
Officials said it was very windy and raining heavily at the time of the landing.". But this, however, would seem somewhat at odds with the METAR's listed above;... that is unless, within the 55 mins following the 21:30Z METAR, a thunderstorm had drifted in, but which was subsequently not reported by the local ATC (
either directly, and / or seemingly definitely not within a METAR) ?!