Two passengers suffered minor injuries during the process of evacuating more than 230 people on board an IndiGo flight after smoke was seen in the cabin and cockpit at Bengaluru Airport on Tuesday evening. Aviation regulator DGCA is investigating the incident and the plane has been grounded for investigation. IndiGo said in a statement that all passengers and crew members are safe and have been taken to the terminal, where they are being looked after by the airline’s team.
The airline said, ‘On May 26, when IndiGo flight 6E6017 from Bengaluru to Chennai was moving towards the runway for take-off, smoke was seen in the aircraft. Keeping security in mind, the passengers were immediately evacuated and all concerned authorities have been informed. Sources said that there were more than 230 people on board the A321 aircraft.
Smoke in cockpit and cabin
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that this process of evacuating passengers in an emergency was done by ‘A321’ aircraft VT-IME. The regulator said in a statement that smoke was seen in the cockpit and cabin when the plane started moving on the runway after pushback.
In aviation parlance, ‘pushback’ means pushing the aircraft back from the parking bay onto the runway by a special tractor, as the aircraft itself does not have a reverse gear.
Two passengers suffered minor injuries
DGCA said, ‘The crew evacuated the passengers safely using all the emergency slides (escape slides). Two passengers suffered minor injuries during the process. The aircraft has been stopped from flying for investigation and repairs. Along with this, the regulator said that it is investigating this incident. The airline said that an alternative (second) aircraft has been arranged to operate this flight.
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