News Desk: A Delhi-bound flight of Air India Express from Bagdogra was forced to make an emergency landing at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport on Monday evening following a mid-air smoke alert. The flight, IX1523, operated by an Airbus A320, was diverted after the pilot issued a Mayday call upon detecting smoke in the avionics bay. Acting swiftly, Air Traffic Control in Lucknow facilitated a priority landing, and the aircraft touched down safely at around 5:18 pm.
“Prioritising safety, the crew operating one of our flights to Delhi elected to divert to Lucknow and carried out a priority landing following a smoke alert. The aircraft landed safely,” an airline spokesperson said. There were 148 people on board, including six crew members. All passengers were safely evacuated after landing, and no injuries were reported.
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The aircraft has since been declared “Aircraft on Ground” (AOG), indicating a technical issue requiring immediate inspection and repairs before it can resume operations. It remains stationed at the Lucknow airport for further checks. Meanwhile, passengers were offered alternative travel arrangements, including rebooking on other flights, full refunds, or hotel accommodations. The incident highlights the airline’s adherence to safety protocols and prompt response in handling in-flight emergencies.
