Kolkata: An IndiGo flight carrying 224 people on board made a priority landing at Chennai International Airport late Tuesday night after its left engine became inoperative shortly before touchdown, prompting airport authorities to declare a full emergency. Flight 6E-723, operating on the Kolkata–Chennai route, was scheduled to land at 11:30 PM when the flight crew reported the technical failure to air traffic control.
In response to the pilot’s emergency signal, Chennai airport officials declared a Full Emergency at 11:29 PM, activating full ground response teams, fire tenders, and medical services as a precautionary measure. The Airbus aircraft landed safely on Runway 25 at 11:37 PM without further incident. All 224 passengers and crew members disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported. Ground authorities formally withdrew the full emergency status at 11:47 PM, allowing normal airport operations to resume.
An IndiGo spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating that the aircraft experienced a technical snag during its final approach and that the flight crew strictly adhered to standard operating procedures. The airline added that the aircraft has been grounded and is currently undergoing comprehensive technical checks and maintenance before being cleared to return to commercial service.
The successful emergency landing comes during a period of heightened regulatory scrutiny regarding airline operational safety and fleet maintenance protocols across domestic carriers. Aviation safety regulators and airport authorities confirmed that all precautionary procedures functioned as intended, preventing a major incident.
