An Air India Express flight en route to Kochi from Bengaluru, made an emergency landing this morning at Bengaluru after one of its engines caught on fire, the Bangalore International Airport Limited said.
The fire was noticed just a few minutes after take off, sources have revealed.
No injuries reported
Air India Express said that all its passengers and crew were evacuated and no one was injured.
Post the fire, the crew members alerted the Air Traffic Controller and a full scale emergency was declared. Once the aircraft landed at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), the fire was put out.
A spokesperson of the BIAL said, “On May 18, 2024, IX 1132 from Bengaluru to Kochi made an emergency landing at BLR Airport at 2312 hrs, due to a reported fire in one of the engines.”
Full scale emergency at Bengaluru airport
A full-scale emergency was declared, and the fire was promptly extinguished upon landing. All 179 passengers and six crew members were successfully evacuated from the aircraft, according to a spokesperson from Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL).
An Air India Express spokesperson stated that the Bengaluru-Kochi flight returned to Bengaluru for a precautionary landing due to suspected flames from the right engine after takeoff. Ground services also reported flames, leading to the evacuation.
“The crew accomplished an evacuation with no injuries to any guests. We regret the inconvenience this has caused and are working to provide alternative arrangements for our guests to reach their destination as soon as possible,” it said.
“A thorough investigation with the regulator shall be accomplished to establish the cause,” it added.
(With PTI inputs)
