An IndiGo flight scheduled to operate from Bengaluru to Chennai was evacuated on Tuesday after smoke was detected in the aircraft while it was taxiing towards the runway for departure. The incident involved flight 6E 6017, and the evacuation was carried out immediately.
In a statement, an IndiGo spokesperson said all passengers and crew members were safe and had been shifted back to the terminal.
“On 26 May 2026, while IndiGo flight 6E 6017 from Bengaluru to Chennai was taxing out to runway for departure, smoke was noticed in the aircraft. In the interest of safety, an immediate evacuation was carried out and all the relevant authorities were informed,” IndiGo Spokesperson said.
Also read | DGCA issues directives for airlines after Ebola outbreak declared as ‘health emergency’
“All customers and crew are safe and have been moved to the terminal, where they are being attended to by our teams to ensure their well-being. An alternate aircraft has been arranged to operate the flight which will depart shortly and refreshments are being served to the customers to ease their wait time. At IndiGo, the safety of our customers and crew remains our top priority, “IndiGo Spokesperson further added.
DGCA issues directives for airlines
In a separate incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued directives on Monday for airlines following the World Health Organisation’s declaration of the Ebola Disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
In an order dated May 22, the DGCA said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has issued standard operating procedures for health preparedness in view of the outbreak. The order noted that countries bordering the DRC and Uganda, including South Sudan, “have been assessed as being at a high risk of disease transmission.”
