An Air India Express flight from Bengaluru to Kochi had to make an emergency landing at Bengaluru after a fire was detected in one of the engines, as reported by Bangalore International Airport Limited on Sunday.
All passengers and crew were safely evacuated with no injuries, confirmed Air India Express in a statement.
Sources revealed that the fire was spotted shortly after takeoff.
The crew immediately informed the Air Traffic Controller, leading to a full-scale emergency response.
The fire was quickly extinguished upon the emergency landing at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru.
“On May 18, 2024, flight IX 1132 from Bengaluru to Kochi made an emergency landing at BLR Airport at 2312 hrs, due to a reported engine fire,” said a spokesperson from BIAL, which manages KIA.
A full emergency response was initiated, and the fire was swiftly extinguished upon landing. All 179 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated from the aircraft, according to a spokesperson from Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL).
An Air India Express spokesperson explained that due to suspected flames from the right engine after takeoff, the Bengaluru-Kochi flight decided to return and land as a precaution. Ground services also observed flames, prompting the evacuation.
“The crew successfully conducted the evacuation without any injuries to passengers. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and are working on alternative arrangements for our guests to reach their destination promptly,” the spokesperson stated.
