An IndiGo flight bound for Diu was forced to abort take-off at the Ahmedabad airport on Wednesday morning after one of its engines caught fire, prompting an emergency evacuation of all passengers onboard.
The ATR 72-600 aircraft, operating as flight 6E-7213, was scheduled to depart at 11 a.m. and was taxiing on the runway when the pilot noticed flames emanating from an engine. The commander issued a “Mayday” call to air traffic control before halting the take-off roll.
Visuals from the tarmac showed smoke billowing from one side of the aircraft as emergency protocols were triggered. The 60 passengers on board were evacuated immediately and safely, officials confirmed.
According to reports, the fire was detected before the aircraft became airborne. Fire services and airport emergency personnel responded swiftly. No injuries have been reported, though several passengers expressed panic and distress.
This latest episode adds to a spate of troubling incidents in Indian aviation over the past fortnight, sparking renewed concerns over air safety and maintenance practices.
Also read: Air India aircraft catches fire post-landing in Delhi, all safe
Earlier this week, an Air India Express flight from Kochi to Muscat returned to base shortly after take-off due to a suspected technical snag. A few days prior, a Vistara flight made an emergency landing in Mumbai following a hydraulic failure. Most notably, the tragic crash of an Air India Dreamliner in Ahmedabad last month claimed 260 lives, leading to nationwide scrutiny of airline emergency preparedness and forensic identification procedures.
IndiGo, the country’s largest carrier by market share, is yet to issue an official statement on the Ahmedabad incident. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Maintenance logs and crew testimonies are expected to form part of the inquiry.
The aircraft involved is an ATR76, a twin-engine turboprop commonly used for regional connectivity. Questions are now being raised about engine performance reliability and inspection schedules.
A senior aviation official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Though no injuries occurred, a fire during take-off is a serious event. The DGCA will thoroughly examine the incident for any lapses in safety protocols.”
Air traffic operations at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport remained unaffected following the evacuation.
While the passengers have since been accommodated on alternate flights, the incident has further eroded public confidence in air travel during a time when Indian civil aviation is grappling with rising passenger numbers and stretched maintenance resources.
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