Smoke Detected In Muscat-Bound Air India Express Flight, Take-off Aborted At Thiruvananthapuram Airport

The incident occurred at 8:39 AM as Air India Express flight was preparing for departure in Thiruvananthapuram with 148 passengers on board.

An Air India Express flight (IX 549) bound for Muscat aborted its take-off at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Kerala, after smoke was detected on the aircraft on Friday morning, October 4, 2024. The incident occurred at 8:39 AM as the flight was preparing for departure. There were 148 passengers on board.

The flight was scheduled to take off stopped as smoke was noticed during the take-off initiation. Passengers were safely returned to the terminal, and airport authorities have confirmed that there was no fire onboard. Investigations are currently underway to determine the source of the smoke.

All passengers have been safely transferred, and an alternative aircraft has been arranged for their onward journey to Muscat. Air India Express issued a statement addressing the incident: “Due to suspected smoke observed during take-off initiation, one of our aircraft returned to the bay at Thiruvananthapuram airport. An alternative aircraft has been arranged for the onward journey of our guests. An investigation will be conducted to determine the exact nature of the issue. We regret the inconvenience while prioritising safety in every aspect of our operations.” 

The flight returned to the bay as checks continued to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its passengers.

Earlier, an Air India flight bound for Mumbai aborted its take-off after a bird-hit at Dabolim airport in Goa. Following the incident, Air India Spokesperson said, “Air India flight AI684 from Goa, Dabolim to Mumbai this morning experienced a bird-hit during its take-off run. The cockpit crew discontinued the take-off as per Standard Operating Procedures to ensure safety of customers and crew. All passengers had disembarked safely, and the aircraft went for necessary inspections following the incident. Our ground colleagues at the Dabolim airport extended all support to the guests. Alternative arrangements were made to fly them to their destination at the earliest."