In a dramatic incident that unfolded on the night of May 18, 2024, an Air India Express flight, traveling from Bengaluru to Kochi, was forced to make an emergency landing at the Bengaluru airport. The reason behind this sudden and unexpected turn of events was a fire that was reported in one of the engines of the aircraft. The flight, designated as IX1132 type Airbus A320 (Reg. VT-ATF), had 179 passengers and six crew members on board.
All 177 psgrs, including two infants, and 6 crew members are safe after one of the engines of an Air India Express IX 1132 flight from @BLRAirport to Kochi caught fire midair on Saturday night. It made an emergency landing at KIA at 11.12 pm eight minutes after take-off, said… pic.twitter.com/e41K2YHeCZ
— S. Lalitha (@Lolita_TNIE) May 19, 2024
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It had just taken off from Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport and was en route to Kochi when the onboard crew noticed a fire in the right engine. The crew promptly reported the situation to the Air Traffic Controller (ATC), leading to the declaration of a full-scale emergency. The aircraft landed back at the Bengaluru airport at 11.12 pm, just minutes after takeoff. Upon landing, a full-scale emergency was declared, and the fire was extinguished immediately. All 179 passengers and six crew members were successfully evacuated from the aircraft, ensuring that no injuries were reported.
The airline, in a statement, mentioned that the Bengaluru-Kochi flight elected to return and carried out a precautionary landing at Bengaluru due to suspected flames from the right engine after takeoff. Ground services also reported flames, which led to the decision for an immediate evacuation. The crew accomplished the evacuation without any injuries to the passengers. The airline expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the incident and assured that they were working to provide alternative arrangements for the passengers to reach their destination as soon as possible.
The airline also stated that a thorough investigation with the regulator would be carried out to establish the cause of the fire. This incident underscores the importance of safety measures and quick response times in aviation and serves as a reminder of the potential dangers that can arise even in routine flights. Earlier in the day, another Bengaluru-bound Air India Express flight with about 137 passengers also made an emergency landing in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirappalli following a technical glitch. These incidents highlight the challenges faced in aviation and the importance of maintaining stringent safety standards. The quick thinking and professional handling of the situation by the crew members averted a major disaster, ensuring the safety of all on board. The incident will undoubtedly serve as a case study for future safety drills and procedures.