LUCKNOW: An Air India Express flight traveling from Bagdogra in West Bengal to Delhi was forced to make an emergency landing at the Lucknow airport on Monday evening after smoke was detected on board. The aircraft, flight IX1523, was diverted to the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport after the flight crew noticed smoke emanating from the aviation electronics (avionics) bay of the Airbus A320.
The situation prompted the pilot to issue a ‘Mayday’ call, an international distress signal used in life-threatening emergencies, to the Lucknow Air Traffic Control (ATC). Following the urgent transmission, airport authorities cleared the way for an immediate arrival, and the aircraft landed safely at approximately 5:18 PM.
There were 148 people on board at the time of the incident, including 142 passengers and six crew members. Immediately after the successful landing, all passengers and crew were evacuated safely from the aircraft. An Air India Express spokesperson stated that the safety of the guests is their top priority and confirmed that the decision to divert to Lucknow was a necessary precautionary measure.
Once at the terminal, the airline provided snacks and refreshments to the stranded passengers. To ensure they reached their destination, the airline later arranged an alternative flight to transport everyone to Delhi. Technical experts are currently inspecting the aircraft to determine the exact cause of the smoke in the electronics compartment.