aviation safety Archives - National Times

05 May

IndiGo Flight Evacuated at Chandigarh Airport After Passenger Power Bank Ignites

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabaviation safety, Chandigarh Airport, emergency evacuation, flight 6E108, IndiGo fire, lithium-ion battery, power bank

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): An IndiGo flight arriving from Hyderabad was forced into an emergency evacuation at Chandigarh airport on Tuesday afternoon after a passenger’s portable power bank caught fire. Flight 6E108 had already completed its landing and was stationary on the tarmac when the personal electronic device began to emit smoke and flames, causing immediate concern within the cabin. Despite the unsettling nature of the event, airline officials confirmed that the situation was handled with professional haste and no injuries were reported among the passengers or crew. The aircraft’s cabin crew, who receive specialized training for high-heat emergencies involving lithium-ion…

31 Mar

Air India Express flight makes emergency landing in Lucknow following cockpit smoke alarm

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAir India Express, aviation safety, emergency landing, flight diversion

Lucknow (Gurpreet Singh): A Delhi-bound Air India Express flight operating from Bagdogra was forced to make an emergency landing at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport on Monday evening. The pilot of flight IX1523 issued a "Mayday" distress call after the crew detected smoke emanating from the avionics bay, the section of the aircraft housing critical electronic systems. The Airbus A320 was diverted to Lucknow immediately following the alert to ensure the safety of those on board. The aircraft landed safely at 5:18 pm after local Air Traffic Control was notified of the technical emergency. A total of 148 individuals, including…

04 Feb

Turkish Airlines Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Kolkata After Engine Fire Alert

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaaviation safety, emergency landing, engine fire alert, Kathmandu to Istanbul flight, Kolkata airport, Turkish Airlines

Kolkata (Rajeev Sharma|): A Turkish Airlines flight travelling from Kathmandu to Istanbul was forced to make an emergency landing at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon after the pilot suspected a fire in one of the aircraft’s engines, airport officials said. The aircraft, carrying 236 passengers and 11 crew members, had taken off from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu when the pilot noticed a possible fire in the right engine within minutes of departure. As a precautionary measure, the engine was immediately shut down. Following the alert, the pilot contacted Kolkata air traffic control and…

24 Jan

Major Airlines Cancel Middle East Flights as Fears Mount Over Possible U.S. Strike on Iran

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld Newsairline cancellations, aviation safety, Middle East Flights, US-Iran tensions

Toronto ( Rajeev Sharma): Major international airlines have abruptly cancelled flights to the Middle East amid growing fears of a possible U.S. military strike on Iran, causing significant disruption for global travelers and raising safety concerns across key air routes. On Saturday, European carriers Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, and Swiss International Air Lines announced the suspension of flights to destinations including Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, citing volatile security conditions and the threat of potential missile or drone activity. In North America, United Airlines and Air Canada also cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, with both carriers pointing…

12 Jan

Air Canada Investigates Incident After Crew Member Trapped in Cargo Hold Before Takeoff

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAir Canada, aviation safety, cargo hold incident, Toronto to Moncton flight

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): An Air Canada ground crew member was accidentally locked inside the cargo hold of a flight traveling from Toronto to Moncton, New Brunswick, prior to departure. According to a statement provided to CTV News, the airline confirmed that the incident took place on December 13 aboard flight AC1502. An Air Canada spokesperson said the aircraft’s cargo doors were unintentionally closed while the crew member was still inside the hold. The situation was quickly identified, prompting the aircraft to return to the gate, where the doors were reopened. The employee was safely released and did not sustain any…

23 Jun

DGCA Begins Intensive Audit of Air India’s Gurugram Headquarters Amid Safety Concerns

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAir India Gurugram HQ, aviation safety, DGCA audit Air India

Gurugram, June 23, 2025 – In a move signaling heightened regulatory scrutiny, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a comprehensive audit of Air India’s main base in Gurugram. The intensified inspection began on June 24 and will continue through June 26, with a special eight-member team assigned—significantly larger than the usual three-member crew.Although the audit had been scheduled before the tragic crash of AI171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, the incident has added urgency to the review process. Officials said the DGCA will examine all critical operational aspects including flight planning, rostering practices, airworthiness checks, crew scheduling,…