Rajkot (Gujarat): An IndiGo flight travelling from Dubai to Mumbai was diverted to Gujarat’s Rajkot on Monday afternoon after smoke was detected in the aircraft’s cargo hold, prompting the crew to declare an emergency and make a precautionary landing.
Flight 6E-1452, using an Airbus A321, was carrying 194 people when the cockpit received an indication of smoke in the cargo hold area.
In line with standard aviation safety procedures, the crew diverted the aircraft to Rajkot International Airport instead of continuing to Mumbai.
Airport authorities declared a full emergency at 2.45 p.m. to prepare for the aircraft’s arrival. Fire tenders, ambulances, and other emergency response teams were deployed and remained on standby as the aircraft approached the airport.
However, the aircraft landed safely at 3.27 p.m. All 194 people on board disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported. The emergency response was subsequently stood down after the passengers had left the aircraft.
An official confirmed that the diversion was made after smoke was detected in the cargo hold and said the aircraft landed safely with all passengers unharmed.
“The aircraft would undergo a technical inspection to determine the cause of the smoke indication,” the official added.
Under international aviation procedures, any indication of smoke or fire in a cargo compartment is treated as a potentially serious event because an actual fire in an aircraft’s hold can pose significant safety risks.
Flight crews are trained to initiate fire suppression procedures, declare an emergency when necessary, and land at the nearest suitable airport as a precaution.
A smoke warning does not necessarily confirm the presence of an active fire, and the exact cause can only be established after engineering and safety inspections.
Authorities have not yet disclosed what triggered the smoke warning, and no damage to the aircraft has been reported.
The aircraft remained at Rajkot for technical checks while arrangements for the passengers’ onward journey were expected to be made by the airline.
IndiGo is India’s largest airline by market share and operates flights to more than 80 domestic destinations and over 30 international destinations.
Its fleet primarily comprises Airbus A320 and A321 family aircraft, along with ATR 72-600 turboprop planes used on regional routes.
Meanwhile, last week, the low-cost airline’s parent firm InterGlobe Aviation reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 238 crore for the first quarter of FY27, compared with the corresponding period last year.
The airline’s earnings reversed sharply in the June quarter, with InterGlobe Aviation swinging to a consolidated net loss of Rs 238 crore from a net profit of Rs 2,176.3 crore in the corresponding period last year, reflecting a deterioration of over Rs 2,400 crore in its bottom line.
(IANS)
