A Delhi-Jabalpur SpiceJet aircraft (SG-2962) had to return to the Delhi airport on Saturday morning after the cabin crew noticed smoke inside the plane when the aircraft was flying at a height of 5,000ft.
A SpiceJet spokesperson said all passengers have deboarded the plane safely at Delhi airport. This is at least the fifth air safety incident faced by the airline in the last two months and second in 15 days. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has started the probe in the matter.
In a statement, a SpiceJet spokesperson said: “On July 2, 2022, SpiceJet Q400 aircraft was operating SG-2962 (Delhi-Jabalpur). While passing 5000ft, the crew noticed smoke in the cabin. The pilots decided to return back to Delhi. Aircraft landed safely at Delhi and passengers were safely disembarked.” The SG 2962 flight had taken off at around 6.30 am on Saturday and was scheduled to reach Jabalpur around 8 am.
An alternate flight was immediately arranged for affected passengers and it has already reached Jabalpur, the spokesperson added.It is not clear how many passengers were travelling on Delhi-Jabalpur flight in which the smoke incident took place.
A video on social media showed a smoke filled flight. Visuals also showed passengers exiting the aircraft after its return to Delhi.
According to officials, the aircraft took off from IGI airport at around 6,30 am Saturday and while passing 5,000 feet, the crew noticed smoke in the cabin along with the lavatory smoke alarm going off.
Later, more smoke was seen in the cabin and the same was conveyed to the pilots, who levelled the aircraft at 15,000 feet and initiated a turn-back to Delhi, the official said, adding that a “MAYDAY” call was declared to the air traffic control. SpiceJet has come under fire, of late, because of back-to-back incidents, raising questions over passenger safety.
Just days before this incident, a SpiceJet Boeing 737 aircraft from Mumbai to Durgapur flew into severe turbulence shortly before landing that led to several passengers being severely injured.
