Passengers on an IndiGo flight breathed a collective sigh of relief after a dramatic evacuation triggered by a blazing personal electronic device, all while the plane sat idle on the tarmac in Chandigarh.
The episode occurred on board flight 6E 108, en route from Hyderabad, moments after it landed on May 5. Quick-thinking crew members doused the flames from the unidentified gadget, preventing any escalation.
IndiGo’s official statement detailed the sequence: ‘Upon landing, smoke was detected from a passenger’s electronic item, prompting immediate evacuation measures.’ Every individual disembarked safely and was guided to the terminal for care and refreshments.
Prior to resuming operations, the plane faces mandatory safety checks. The airline reiterated, ‘Protecting our customers and team is non-negotiable.’
A similar close call happened weeks earlier at Delhi’s IGI Airport. An IndiGo jet from Visakhapatnam encountered engine trouble in flight, prompting a full emergency alert. Pilots navigated a textbook landing at 10:54 AM, with ground crews primed and all 161 souls on board emerging unscathed.
The Civil Aviation Ministry reported seamless normalization of airport activities post-incident. As airlines grapple with gadget-related risks, these episodes serve as stark reminders of the need for stricter onboard device regulations and crew preparedness.
