From Abu Dhabi to Calicut, Air India flight catches fire post take off

Mangalore Today News Network / News18

New Delhi, Feb 03, 2023: An Air India flight made an emergency landing at Abu Dhabi airport after its engine number 1 (left engine) caught fire, while it was mid-air. The incident happened while the Calicut-bound Air India Express B737-800 aircraft was at a height of 1000 feet during its climb after takeoff from the Abu Dhabi airport.

 

A “full emergency" was declared on the flight after the fire was reported, following which the aircraft made a “safe" emergency landing and all passengers were evacuated.

“Today an Air India Express B737-800 aircraft VT-AYC operating flight IX 348 (Abu Dhabi-Calicut ) was involved in Airturnback due to the No.1 engine flameout at 1000ft during the climb," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement.

Further details are awaited.

Meanwhile, the government on Thursday said domestic airlines faced a total of 546 technical snags during the operation of planes last year. Out of them, Air India faced 64 snags.