An IndiGo flight 6E 146, scheduled to fly from Chandigarh to Lucknow, was canceled on Friday due to a technical issue detected by the pilot during pre-flight checks. The technical snag was identified before the aircraft commenced taxiing, prompting the airline to safely deboard all passengers as a precautionary measure.
According to sources, the pilot reported the technical issue during standard inspections, which led to the flight's cancellation. Passengers affected by the cancellation were either accommodated on alternate flights or offered full refunds.
The incident occurred amidst heightened scrutiny of aviation safety in India. A day prior, another IndiGo aircraft, flying from Guwahati to Chennai, made an emergency landing in Bengaluru after issuing a Mayday call due to critically low fuel. Furthermore, an Air India Express flight en route from Delhi to Patna was diverted to Varanasi due to inclement weather.
While the flight cancellation caused inconvenience to passengers, many expressed appreciation for the airline's proactive approach, emphasizing the importance of passenger safety. As of now, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has not released a public statement regarding the incident. However, the repeated occurrence of pre-flight anomalies across various carriers has drawn attention to the necessity for stricter oversight and preventive maintenance protocols within the aviation industry.
In another recent incident, an IndiGo flight from Guwahati to Chennai had to make an emergency landing at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport due to low fuel. The aircraft initially attempted a landing in Chennai but aborted it after the landing gear briefly touched the runway. A source indicated that the approach appeared unstable, which led the pilot to execute a steep climb. The flight issued a distress call approximately 35 miles from Bengaluru, resulting in the emergency diversion.
Adding to the list of recent aviation concerns, a Madurai-bound flight experienced a technical issue mid-air on Friday and returned to Chennai after about 30 minutes of flight time.
