LUCKNOW: An Air India Express flight made an emergency landing at Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, where a full-scale emergency was declared on Monday evening after a Mayday call by the pilot.
Flight IX 1523 was travelling from Bagdogra in West Bengal to Delhi. It was flying above the Ghaghara river in Ambedkar Nagar district at around 4.58 pm when the pilots claimed to have detected what they believed to be smoke emanating from the aircraft’s avionics panels in the cabin and immediately informed air traffic control.
Upon detecting smoke, the pilot made a ‘Mayday’ call to Lucknow Air Traffic Control. After the Mayday call, oxygen masks were provided to the passengers.
After receiving permission for an emergency landing in Lucknow, the aircraft landed safely at 5.17 pm. Since then, the flight has been parked at Lucknow’s Terminal 3.
The flight had 148 passengers and crew members on board, and all were safe. Many passengers were sent to Delhi on other flights, while some were accommodated in hotels in Lucknow. Security and technical teams are investigating the aircraft.
Initial investigation has not revealed any clear cause of the alleged smoke or fire.
Several passengers later said the sudden drop of oxygen masks, combined with the Mayday announcement, led to moments of fear and confusion inside the aircraft.
Some passengers reported that anxiety spread quickly as cabin crew rushed to reassure travellers and calmly guided them on how to use the masks while the aircraft prepared for diversion.
Officials said no injuries were reported. A thorough inspection of the aircraft was carried out by the airport fire department and technical teams, but no visible signs of smoke or fire were found.
Despite the absence of any immediate findings, the aircraft was grounded as a safety measure and will return to service only after a comprehensive technical evaluation and formal certification of airworthiness.
Airport officials reiterated that the emergency procedures followed during the incident ensured passenger safety, noting that precautionary diversions and grounding of aircraft are standard practice when potential technical issues are reported mid-flight.