SpiceJet plane makes emergency landing at Hyderabad airport after smoke detected in cockpit; DGCA orders probe

A “Full Scale Emergency” was declared when smoke was observed in the cockpit on Flight No SG 3735, Goa to Hyderabad which had 86 passengers on board on October 12 night at 11 p.m. Aviation regulator DGCA is probing the incident, according to officials.

“The plane landed safely and passengers disembarked through the emergency exit. One passenger sustained minor scratches on the feet while disembarking from the aircraft,” a DGCA official said.

Airport sources said the Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting team had immediately evacuated all passengers safely amid heavy rain but in the process about nine flights got diverted due this incident towards Bengaluru and Chennai.

The pilot of flight SG 3735 noticed smoke and alerted the Air Traffic Controller (ATC), who in turn alerted the ground staff. While no major injuries have been reported, a passenger travelling in the plane Srikanth M tweeted photos from inside the plan when the smoke was billowed out and said the passengers were really scared.

“It took 20 minutes from there and all the passengers suffered and blacked out with fear. Luckily, we landed safely but what is something happens and who would be responsible, this happened due to the negligence of the crew and the respective department, (sic)” he tweeted.

The Spicejet airport manager did not answer calls when contacted as GMR Airport officials claimed only the airlines could part with additional information and they deal with “emergency activation” only.

SpiceJet has been facing operational and financial headwinds in recent times, and it is already under enhanced surveillance of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The regulator had also directed the airline to operate only 50% of its total flights till October 29.

On July 27, DGCA directed SpiceJet to operate a maximum of 50% of its flights, which were approved in the summer schedule for a period of eight weeks owing to a series of incidents involving its flights.

Last month, the restrictions were extended till October 29.

(With inputs from PTI)