Air India flight scare: Pilot issues ‘Mayday’ as smoke fills cabin, 148 passengers struggle to breathe

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) - An Air India Express flight from Bagdogra (Siliguri) to Delhi had to make an emergency landing mid-way at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport due to a technical fault. According to airport sources, smoke was seen coming out of the cockpit's electrical panel (avionics bay) during the flight, after which the pilot took immediate precaution and decided to divert the plane to Lucknow.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the pilot issued a "Mayday" call, the international emergency signal used in case of any major threat. Air Traffic Control (ATC) was alerted and the plane was given priority landing permission.

According to sources, the plane landed safely at Lucknow airport at around 5:18 pm. There were 148 people on board including six crew members.

All passengers were safely evacuated following the incident, and a technical examination of the aircraft has been initiated. The airline and relevant agencies are conducting a detailed investigation into the matter.