LUCKNOW: A full-scale emergency was declared at Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (CCSIA) on Monday evening after an Air India Express flight operating from Bagdogra to Delhi issued a Mayday call mid-air following suspected smoke inside the aircraft.The flight, IX 1523, was cruising at 36,000 feet above Ghaghara river in Ambedkar Nagar district at around 4.58 pm, when pilots claimed to have detected, as what they believed to be smoke emanating from the aircraft’s avionic panels in the cabin and immediately informed air traffic control.“As a precautionary measure, the crew declared a Mayday, triggering the deployment of oxygen masks and causing panic among a section of passengers,” said a source familiar with the incident.Several passengers later said the sudden drop of oxygen masks, combined with the Mayday announcement, led to moments of fear and confusion inside the aircraft. Some passengers reported that anxiety spread quickly as cabin crew rushed to reassure travelers and calmly guided them on how to use the masks while the aircraft prepared for diversion.Following the alert, the aircraft was diverted to Lucknow and made a safe precautionary landing at CCSIA at 5.17 pm. Emergency response teams, including airport fire and medical services, were positioned in advance as part of standard protocol for such situations.All 148 passengers and crew were safely deboarded and escorted to Terminal 3. Officials said no injuries were reported. A detailed inspection of the aircraft was carried out by the airport fire department and technical teams, but no visible signs of smoke or fire were found.Despite the absence of any immediate findings, the aircraft has been grounded as a safety measure and will return to service only after a comprehensive technical evaluation and formal certification of airworthiness.The incident triggered frustration among some passengers due to delays and uncertainty about onward travel. One passenger, identified as Hemron Michael, shared an image of the oxygen mask deployment on social media, seeking clarity on revised travel arrangements as the delay extended beyond two hours.According to officials from Lucknow International Airport Ltd, passengers were initially brought to Terminal 3. A number of them were accommodated on alternate flights to Delhi, while others were provided overnight hotel accommodation and assured priority booking on the next available flights.Airport officials reiterated that the emergency procedures followed during the incident ensured passenger safety, noting that precautionary diversions and grounding of aircraft are standard practice when potential technical issues are reported mid-flight.About the AuthorArvind ChauhanWhen he’s not chasing stories, you’ll likely find him exploring food lanes, indulging in mutton delicacies and sundaes. He is a journalist with a can-do spirit and a flair for compelling storytelling. From railways and aviation to defence, infrastructure, social development and various other diverse beats, his reportage reflects depth. His work has earned him the Times Scribe Award four times.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Global Oil Crisis May Push India Closer To Iran’: US Expert Robert Pape Hints Big Diplomatic Shift’India Is Now Naxal-Free’: Amit Shah Tells Lok Sabha; Hits Out At Congress, Rahul Gandhi’India Better Mediator Than Pakistan’: Israeli Envoy Says Islamabad Is Trying Hard To Be RelevantTrump Threatens To ‘Obliterate’ Iran’s Infra If No Deal; Tehran Rejects Pak’s Mediation ProposalNew Income Tax Rules Kick In From April With Same Rates, Sharper Rules And Tighter Reporting System’Congress Laid Red Carpet For Red Corridor’: Anurag Thakur Hits Out Over Naxalism’Family Of Pimps’: Pakistan Minister Khawaja Asif Loses Cool At Jaishankar’s Alleged ‘Dalal’ RemarkMiG-29 Fighter Jets Get Major Boost, Indian Air Force Plans ASRAAM Missile Integration For Combat’Congress Romanticised Maoism’: Sambit Patra Slams Rahul Gandhi During Naxalism Debate In Lok Sabha“PM Modi Controls Your CM”: Rahul Gandhi Explosive Allegation Ahead of Polls123PhotostoriesNavi Mumbai’s billionaire lanes: 5 posh localities dominating high-end real estateBeautiful and inspiring Sheikhas of the UAE: Trailblazers redefining royaltySmriti Mandhana: 5 life lessons to learn from the ace Indian woman cricketerDiabetes and liver disease are tightly linked, study of over 9,000 Indian adult finds: Doctor answers critical questions on this hidden connectionThis island nation is Africa’s best-kept secret—and hardly anyone is visitingSridevi to Madhuri Dixit: Decoding the appeal of the sunset-hued saree and who truly owned itWorld Idli Day 2026: 8 traditional varieties of South Indian idlis that are perfect for breakfastWhat is micro-cheating? Therapist explains the two sides of ‘Flickering’ in relationshipsWhy this food is called ‘poor man’s protein’ and 9 ways to consume it in summer monthsBhagavad Gita wisdom: What stays in your life without force is yours by dharma, and whatever leaves despite all efforts came only to……123Hot PicksIncome Tax Changes from April 1stNFL Trade NewsCandace OwensAaron RodgersIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingGold Price PredictionDelhi DOE Results 2026RR vs CSKStrait of HormuzJEE Admit CardKharg IslandIndian Army Agniveer RecruitmentWhy Stock Market Crash TodayBank Holiday this weekKharg Island
LUCKNOW: A full-scale emergency was declared at Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (CCSIA) on Monday evening after an Air India Express flight operating from Bagdogra to Delhi issued a Mayday call mid-air following suspected smoke inside the aircraft.The flight, IX 1523, was cruising at 36,000 feet above Ghaghara river in Ambedkar Nagar district at around 4.58 pm, when pilots claimed to have detected, as what they believed to be smoke emanating from the aircraft’s avionic panels in the cabin and immediately informed air traffic control.“As a precautionary measure, the crew declared a Mayday, triggering the deployment of oxygen masks and causing panic among a section of passengers,” said a source familiar with the incident.Several passengers later said the sudden drop of oxygen masks, combined with the Mayday announcement, led to moments of fear and confusion inside the aircraft. Some passengers reported that anxiety spread quickly as cabin crew rushed to reassure travelers and calmly guided them on how to use the masks while the aircraft prepared for diversion.Following the alert, the aircraft was diverted to Lucknow and made a safe precautionary landing at CCSIA at 5.17 pm. Emergency response teams, including airport fire and medical services, were positioned in advance as part of standard protocol for such situations.All 148 passengers and crew were safely deboarded and escorted to Terminal 3. Officials said no injuries were reported. A detailed inspection of the aircraft was carried out by the airport fire department and technical teams, but no visible signs of smoke or fire were found.Despite the absence of any immediate findings, the aircraft has been grounded as a safety measure and will return to service only after a comprehensive technical evaluation and formal certification of airworthiness.The incident triggered frustration among some passengers due to delays and uncertainty about onward travel. One passenger, identified as Hemron Michael, shared an image of the oxygen mask deployment on social media, seeking clarity on revised travel arrangements as the delay extended beyond two hours.According to officials from Lucknow International Airport Ltd, passengers were initially brought to Terminal 3. A number of them were accommodated on alternate flights to Delhi, while others were provided overnight hotel accommodation and assured priority booking on the next available flights.Airport officials reiterated that the emergency procedures followed during the incident ensured passenger safety, noting that precautionary diversions and grounding of aircraft are standard practice when potential technical issues are reported mid-flight.
