What Happened During the IndiGo Flight's 'Fuel Mayday' Call?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- IndiGo flight issued a 'Fuel Mayday' call mid-air.
- Emergency landing was made at Bengaluru International Airport.
- Flight was diverted from Chennai due to air traffic congestion.
- No injuries were reported during the incident.
- Standard emergency protocols were activated by ATC.
Bengaluru, June 21 (NationPress) Just as the devastating Air India crash that claimed more than 270 lives began to fade from public memory, another concerning incident emerged on Saturday. An IndiGo flight with 168 passengers onboard issued a 'Fuel Mayday' alert while in the air and successfully executed an emergency landing at Bengaluru International Airport.
This event transpired on June 19 but has only recently attracted attention. IndiGo spokesperson Rashmi informed IANS on Saturday that no formal statement has been released regarding the situation. She explained, “The pilot declared a 'Fuel Mayday' as the flight was rerouted from Chennai to Bengaluru International Airport due to air traffic congestion (ATC).”
The pilot's declaration of a 'Fuel Mayday' indicated an urgent need for landing. Therefore, the flight was granted priority to land ahead of others and arrived safely, she added.
Rashmi elucidated that it is standard practice for pilots to announce a 'Fuel Mayday' when they require an emergency landing due to low fuel levels.
According to sources, IndiGo flight 6E-6764 departed from Guwahati Airport and was bound for Chennai International Airport. However, due to traffic congestion, the flight had to be diverted to Bengaluru.
This incident followed shortly after the tragic crash of an Air India flight from Ahmedabad, which has heightened anxiety among passengers and crew on the IndiGo flight, sources reported.
The IndiGo aircraft, reportedly critically low on fuel, managed to land safely at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. In response to the distress call, air traffic control (ATC) was notified, and emergency protocols were activated. Medical and fire response teams were deployed and remained on standby at the airport. The flight successfully landed at 8:20 p.m., according to airport sources.
Following the emergency landing, the aircraft continued its journey to Chennai with a replacement crew, sources confirmed.