An Air India Express flight travelling from Varanasi to Delhi made a precautionary landing at Lucknow airport on Thursday morning after a smoke detection alarm in the aircraft’s cargo hold was activated. The aircraft, operating as flight IX 1253, landed safely after the pilot contacted Lucknow Air Traffic Control (ATC) and requested permission to divert.
The flight had taken off from Varanasi airport at around 8 am with 155 passengers onboard. Shortly after departure, the cargo-hold smoke detection system was triggered, prompting the crew to take precautionary measures. The pilot subsequently informed ATC in Lucknow and proceeded towards the airport for a safety landing.
The aircraft touched down at Lucknow airport at 8:52 am. Airport response teams, fire brigade personnel and technical experts were deployed after the aircraft arrived. All 155 passengers and crew members were deboarded by 9:02 am as authorities carried out safety checks and assessed the aircraft.
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Following the evacuation of passengers and crew, the aircraft was moved to a hangar for a detailed technical inspection. Preliminary checks at the airport found no signs of smoke or fire inside the aircraft, according to sources. The absence of visible signs of fire allowed authorities to continue with further examination to determine why the warning system had been activated.
The incident did not result in any reported injuries among the passengers or crew. Aviation and technical teams are investigating the activation of the smoke detection alarm to determine whether it was caused by a technical issue, a false alert or another factor.
The precautionary landing highlights the safety procedures followed when an aircraft’s onboard warning systems indicate a potential hazard. Further details about the cause of the alarm are expected after the technical inspection and investigation are completed.
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