KOLKATA- An IndiGo Airlines (6E) flight from Kolkata (CCU) to Srinagar (SXR) made an unscheduled landing at Varanasi Airport (VNS) on Wednesday evening after the crew reported a suspected fuel leak.
All 166 passengers on board the A320neo aircraft were safe after the precautionary landing, officials confirmed. IndiGo later said the aircraft had been grounded for checks and an alternate jet was deployed to continue the journey.
IndiGo Flight Fuel Leak Alert
The IndiGo flight 6E-6961 departed from Kolkata around 3:10 pm, heading to Srinagar, when the pilot detected a possible fuel leak warning mid-air. Assessing the potential risk, the pilot alerted Air Traffic Control (ATC) in Varanasi and requested permission for an emergency landing.
The Airbus A320neo landed safely at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) at approximately 4:10 pm. Emergency services were on standby, and airport authorities confirmed the aircraft was secured shortly after touchdown. All passengers were escorted to the terminal safely, and no injuries were reported.
Initial checks by IndiGo’s technical team indicated that a sensor malfunction might have triggered a false fuel leak alarm.
The airline stated that the situation was “completely normal and under control.” As a standard safety procedure, the aircraft was grounded for a detailed inspection before resuming operations.
Official Remarks
In an official statement, IndiGo (6E) said the precautionary landing was made “due to a suspected technical issue.” The airline emphasized its adherence to strict safety protocols and confirmed that passengers were accommodated on an alternate aircraft to complete their journey to Srinagar (SXR).
Flight data from Flightradar24 confirmed the aircraft involved was an Airbus A320neo, a model known for its fuel-efficient engines and advanced onboard monitoring systems.
A senior airport official at Varanasi Airport (VNS) noted that all emergency procedures were executed smoothly, and there was no disruption to other flight operations.
Technical experts are conducting a full inspection of the aircraft to identify the root cause of the alert. Preliminary reports suggest no visible fuel leakage was found, reinforcing the likelihood of a sensor-related fault.
IndiGo operates one of India’s largest A320neo fleets, and the airline maintains a consistent record of safety compliance. Following the incident, flight operations across IndiGo’s network continued without interruption.
Similar Incident
A United Airlines (UA) flight from London Heathrow (LHR) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) made a U-turn shortly after takeoff on November 9, 2024, following an in-flight emergency.
The Chicago-based carrier confirmed that Flight UA17, operated by a Boeing 767-300ER, returned safely to London after the crew declared an emergency mid-flight due to a suspected technical issue.
United Airlines Flight UA17 departed London Heathrow at 12:30 PM local time, around 25 minutes behind schedule. According to FlightRadar24 data, the aircraft climbed to 33,000 feet and crossed near Dublin Airport (DUB) before the pilots initiated a U-turn. The crew declared an emergency and coordinated with air traffic control to return to Heathrow.
The Boeing 767 landed safely at approximately 2:10 PM local time and taxied to an isolated area near Terminal 2 for inspection. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Initial reports from aviation observers on X (formerly Twitter) suggested a possible fuel leak, though this has not been officially confirmed. United Airlines’ media relations team has been contacted for verified information on the incident, but did not responded.
The aircraft involved, registered as N664UA, is a 26.4-year-old Boeing 767-300ER powered by Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines. These engines are part of a widely used family across multiple carriers, known for their reliability, though older aircraft occasionally require closer monitoring and maintenance due to age-related wear.
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