Engine fire prompts emergency landing at Bengaluru airport; 179 passengers safe

BENGALURU: An Air India Express flight bound for Kochi made an emergency landing at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport after its right engine caught fire shortly after take-off on May 18. The flight, carrying 179 passengers and six crew members, landed safely with no reported injuries.
Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL), the operator of Kempegowda International Airport, spokesperson, said, "On May 18, 2024, IX 1132 from Bengaluru to Kochi made an emergency landing at Bengaluru airport at 11:12 pm, due to a reported fire in one of the engines."
"A full-scale emergency was declared, and the fire was promptly extinguished upon landing.All 179 passengers and six crew members were successfully evacuated from the aircraft, " the spokesperson added.
Furthermore, an Air India Express spokesperson said, “Due to suspected flames from the right engine after takeoff, the Bengaluru-Kochi flight elected to return and carried out a precautionary landing at Bengaluru. Ground services also reported flames, prompting an evacuation. The crew successfully evacuated all guests without injuries.”
Alternative transportation for the passengers was arranged to ensure that passengers reached their destination as soon as possible, added the spokesperson. A thorough investigation with the regulator will be conducted to determine the cause.
Recently, on May 17, an Air India aircraft, a Bengaluru-bound flight returned to Delhi following a fire warning from its auxiliary power unit. That flight had around 175 passengers on board.
Additionally, in another incident earlier this month, a flight from Mumbai to Bengaluru declared an emergency landing due to a technical malfunction. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers were evacuated without injuries.