An IndiGo flight bound for Bengaluru was forced to make an emergency landing at Kolkata airport on Friday after experiencing engine failure shortly after takeoff. The incident triggered a full emergency declaration at the airport, with both runways being made available for the aircraft’s safe return.
Flight 6E0573, which had departed Kolkata at 10:36 pm, landed back at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport at 10:53 pm. The full emergency, declared at 10:39 pm, was lifted at 11:08 pm.
According to a spokesperson, the left-side engine of the aircraft malfunctioned after takeoff, prompting the pilot to return to Kolkata. Thankfully, no fire or sparks were reported, and all passengers disembarked safely.
This incident marks the third emergency landing involving Indian airlines within a week. On August 15, an Akasa Air flight from Varanasi to Mumbai was forced to make an emergency landing at Bhopal airport after a passenger fell ill and was later declared dead. A week prior, another IndiGo flight en route from Bengaluru to Patna was diverted to Nagpur due to a passenger experiencing a medical emergency. The passenger, exhibiting unusual symptoms including shaking, unconsciousness, and body stiffness, was admitted to a local hospital and diagnosed with a seizure disorder.
These recent events highlight the importance of aviation safety protocols and the need for swift response during in-flight emergencies. Authorities are investigating the cause of the engine failure in the IndiGo flight and reviewing procedures to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
