IndiGo Flight Declares 'Mayday' Over Low Fuel, Lands Safely: Sources
By : Sandhya
An IndiGo Guwahati-Chennai flight with 168 passengers on board made an emergency landing in Bengaluru on Thursday after the pilots issued a 'mayday' call due to critically low fuel levels, according to aviation sources.
The A321 aircraft, flight 6E-6764, took off from Guwahati at 4:40 PM and attempted to land at Chennai around 7:45 PM. However, congestion at Chennai airport delayed its landing, forcing the pilots to initiate a go-around. With fuel levels reaching a dangerously low point, the crew declared a mayday and diverted to Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.
The aircraft landed safely at 8:20 PM. Upon receiving the distress alert, Bengaluru ATC activated emergency protocols, with medical and fire teams positioned on the ground. All passengers disembarked safely. Both pilots have been derostered pending an investigation.
This incident comes just a week after the tragic Air India Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad, which killed over 270 people. In that case, the aircraft had also issued a mayday shortly before crashing into residential buildings.
In a separate incident on Friday, another IndiGo flight from Chennai to Madurai suffered a technical snag mid-air. The aircraft, carrying 68 passengers, returned to Chennai and landed safely. All passengers were deplaned following standard safety protocols.