Bengaluru: Panic briefly gripped passengers at Kempegowda International Airport after smoke was detected inside an IndiGo flight preparing to depart for Chennai on Monday, prompting an emergency evacuation.
The incident involved IndiGo flight 6E 6017, which was taxiing towards the runway from Bengaluru to Chennai when smoke was noticed inside the aircraft.
Airport authorities and emergency response teams were immediately alerted as a precautionary evacuation procedure was initiated.
Passengers evacuated using emergency procedures
According to the airline, all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated from the aircraft and shifted to the terminal area.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated that the Airbus A321 aircraft, registered as VT-IME, experienced smoke inside the cabin during pushback operations.
Officials confirmed that emergency evacuation procedures were carried out using escape slides.
No injuries were reported in the incident.
IndiGo arranges alternate aircraft
Following the evacuation, IndiGo arranged an alternate aircraft to operate the Bengaluru–Chennai service.
The airline said passengers were being assisted by on-ground teams and refreshments were provided during the delay.
In an official statement, the airline said the safety and security of passengers and crew remained its highest priority.
“All customers and crew are safe and have been moved to the terminal, where they are being attended to by our teams to ensure their well-being,” the airline stated.
Authorities begin investigation
Aviation authorities are expected to examine the aircraft and determine the source of the smoke.
The incident triggered a temporary emergency response at the airport, though operations continued without major disruption.
Officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the smoke inside the cabin.
Recent IndiGo incident involving power bank fire
The Bengaluru incident comes weeks after another safety scare involving an IndiGo flight earlier this month.
On May 5, a power bank reportedly caught fire aboard an IndiGo Hyderabad–Chandigarh flight after landing.
Passengers were evacuated after smoke was detected from a bag inside the aircraft. Authorities later confirmed that no injuries were reported in that incident as well.
The recent cases have once again drawn attention to onboard safety procedures and the handling of electronic devices during flights.
Airline reiterates safety commitment
IndiGo has reiterated that passenger safety remains central to its operations and that emergency protocols were followed promptly during the Bengaluru incident.
Aviation experts note that smoke detection incidents are treated with maximum caution globally, with immediate evacuation procedures activated even if the source remains unconfirmed.
The affected passengers were later accommodated on the replacement flight arranged by the airline.
Further investigation by aviation authorities is underway.