Panic Mid-Air as IndiGo Flight Reports Fuel Leakage, Makes Emergency Landing in Varanasi

Varanasi (The Uttam Hindu): A major scare occurred onboard an IndiGo Airlines flight (No. 6E-551) flying from Kolkata to Srinagar after a fuel leakage was detected mid-air. The pilot immediately contacted Varanasi Airport ATC and requested permission for an emergency landing. The aircraft was safely landed in Varanasi shortly after.

166 Passengers Onboard

According to reports, the flight was carrying 166 passengers, including crew members. The aircraft had taken off from Kolkata for Srinagar when technical issues in the fuel system were detected during mid-flight checks.

The crew members acted promptly and alerted the ATC. Emergency services at Varanasi Airport were immediately activated, with fire brigades, ambulances, and security personnel deployed along the runway.

Panic Among Passengers, All Safe

The sudden landing and the presence of emergency vehicles caused brief panic among passengers. However, the situation was quickly brought under control after the plane landed safely, and all passengers were evacuated without injury.

The aircraft was moved to the apron (parking zone) for a thorough technical inspection and repair, which reportedly took around two hours.

IndiGo Issues Official Statement

IndiGo Airlines released a statement confirming the incident:

“Our crew detected a potential technical issue in the fuel system and, following safety protocols, made an emergency landing at Varanasi Airport. All passengers and crew are safe. We regret the inconvenience caused.”