A Turkish Airlines aircraft carrying 236 passengers made an emergency landing at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Wednesday after the pilot detected a suspected engine fire mid-air.
The aircraft, operating as Flight THY-727, had departed from Kathmandu, Nepal, and was en route to Istanbul, Turkey.
Shortly after take-off, the pilot noticed abnormal technical indications suggesting a mechanical fault in the right engine. He suspected a possible fire and decided to divert the aircraft as a precautionary measure.
At the time of the incident, the plane was flying near Kolkata. The pilot immediately contacted Kolkata Air Traffic Control and sought permission for an emergency landing.
ATC granted clearance, and the aircraft landed safely at 2:49 PM, airport officials confirmed.
Sources at the airport said the aircraft was carrying 236 passengers along with the pilot and multiple crew members. All onboard remained unharmed.
Passengers, however, experienced panic during the unscheduled descent due to a suspected technical issue.
Following the landing, airport authorities safely evacuated all passengers from the aircraft.
Emergency response teams and technical crews quickly moved into action.
The director of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport stated that the aircraft remains stationed at the Kolkata airport for a detailed technical inspection.
Engineers are currently examining the suspected faulty engine to determine the exact cause of the alert. The airline has begun making alternative arrangements to transport passengers to their final destination.
Turkish Airlines has not issued an official statement on the incident so far.
The episode comes amid heightened scrutiny of aviation safety following recent air tragedies.
On June 12 last year, an Air India aircraft flying from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick airport crashed into a building moments after take-off, killing 260 people.
More recently, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar reportedly died in a private plane crash during landing at Baramati in Maharashtra.
Four other individuals were also on board the aircraft, and all were killed in the accident.
These successive aviation incidents have intensified public concern over flight safety and aircraft maintenance standards, prompting renewed calls for strict compliance and enhanced oversight across the aviation sector.
Also Read: PM Modi To Visit Malaysia On February 7-8 For Bilateral Talks With PM Anwar Ibrahim
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
