An IndiGo flight heading for Chennai from Guwahati was compelled to make an emergency diversion to Bengaluru on Thursday night after the pilot declared a "fuel Mayday" as the plane was low on fuel, as per aviation sources.
The plane, flying as 6E6764, had been directed to land at Chennai but could not do so as the airport was congested. Sources indicated that the plane circled around Chennai airport for a while before the pilot decided to divert to Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.
At 8:11 p.m., the pilot made a "fuel Mayday" call to Bengaluru Air Traffic Control (ATC). The flight was given permission and landed safely at 8:15 p.m. All the passengers were offloaded and served refreshments while the aircraft was refuelled.
After refuelling, the flight took off for Chennai at 10:24 p.m. and landed safely without any problem. All the passengers were safely offloaded, the sources further added.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the concerned authorities were kept up to date with the events during the episode.
Earlier on Friday, in another incident, an IndiGo flight from Madurai to Chennai had returned to its point of origin only 30 minutes after taking off because of a reported technical malfunction. The plane, which had more than 60 people on board, took off from Chennai around 7:55 a.m.
Soon after take-off, the pilots sensed a technical glitch and, out of precaution, chose to return. The plane landed safely in Chennai and all on board were reported to be safe, sources added.
The airline has not made any official comment on either incident.
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