Mid-Air Smoke Alert Forces Air India Express Varanasi-Delhi Flight To Make Precautionary Landing

Mid-Air Smoke Alert Forces Air India Express Varanasi-Delhi Flight To Make Precautionary Landing

An Air India Express flight from Varanasi to Delhi made a precautionary landing at Lucknow after a smoke detection alarm in the cargo hold was activated. All 155 passengers and crew were safely deboarded, while preliminary checks found no smoke or fire. An investigation is underway.

PTIUpdated: Thursday, September 03, 2026, 01:59 PM IST
Mid-Air Smoke Alert Forces Air India Express Varanasi-Delhi Flight To Make Precautionary Landing
Mid-Air Smoke Alert Forces Air India Express Varanasi-Delhi Flight To Make Precautionary Landing |

Lucknow: An Air India Express flight from Varanasi to Delhi made a precautionary landing at Lucknow airport Thursday morning allegedly after a smoke detection alarm went off in the aircraft's cargo hold, sources said.

However, preliminary checks at Lucknow airport found no sign of smoke or fire in the aircraft, they added.

Flight IX 1253, with 155 passengers onboard, took off from Varanasi airport around 8 am. Shortly after take-off, the smoke detection alarm in the cargo hold was activated, following which the pilot contacted Lucknow Air Traffic Control (ATC) and sought permission to land.

The aircraft landed at Lucknow airport at 8:52 am, following which the airport's response team, fire brigade personnel and technical experts reached the aircraft. All 155 passengers and crew members were deboarded at 9:02 am, sources said.

The aircraft was subsequently moved to a hanger for inspection.

Preliminary checks found no signs of smoke or fire inside the aircraft, sources said, adding that an investigation is underway to determine the reason for the activation of the smoke alarm.

(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)