Air India Express flight diverted to Lucknow after Mayday call; Oxygen mask deployment triggers panic among passengers | India News
LUCKNOW: A full-scale emergency was declared at Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (CCSIA) on Monday evening after an Air India Express flight from Bagdogra to Delhi issued a May Day call mid-air following suspicious smoke inside the aircraft.The flight, IX 1523, was cruising at 36,000 feet above the Ghaghra river in Ambedkar Nagar district at 4.58 pm, when the pilots noticed smoke coming from the aircraft’s avionic panel in the cabin and immediately informed air traffic control.“As a precautionary measure, the crew declared a mayday, triggering the deployment of oxygen masks and causing panic among a section of passengers,” said a source familiar with the incident.Several passengers later said that the sudden drop of oxygen masks combined with the Mayday announcement led to moments of fear and confusion inside the plane. Some passengers reported that anxiety spread quickly as cabin crew rushed to reassure passengers and calmly instructed them on how to use masks while the plane prepared for the diversion.After the alert, the aircraft was diverted to Lucknow and made a safe precautionary landing at CCSIA at 5.17 pm. Emergency response teams, including airport fire and medical services, were on standby as part of standard protocol for such situations.148 passengers and crew were safely disembarked and taken to Terminal 3. Officials said no injuries were reported. The airport’s fire department and technical teams conducted a detailed inspection of the aircraft, but found no visible signs of smoke or fire.Despite the absence of any immediate findings, the aircraft has been grounded as a safety precaution and will return to service only after a comprehensive technical assessment and formal certification of airworthiness.The incident led to frustration among some passengers due to delays and uncertainty about onward journeys. A passenger named Hemron Michael shared a photo Oxygen mask Posting on social media, seeking clarification on revised travel arrangements due to delay extending by more than two hours.According to Lucknow International Airport Limited officials, the passengers were initially brought to Terminal 3. Several of them were accommodated on alternative flights to Delhi, others were given overnight hotel accommodation and assured priority booking on the next available flight.Airport officials reiterated that the emergency procedures followed during the incident ensured passenger safety, noting that precautionary diversion and aircraft grounding is standard practice when potential technical problems are reported mid-flight.
