Smoke from engine of AI Express airplane in Muscat, all evacuated

AS MANY as 145 passengers, together with 4 infants, and 6 crew members have been evacuated from an Air India Express airplane in Muscat on Wednesday after smoke was noticed from one of many engines of the Boeing 737 plane.

According to studies, the airplane was getting ready to depart for Kochi at 11.20 am (Oman time). When it was on the taxiway, one other plane reported seeing fumes from one of many engines. The plane was then stopped on the taxiway and the cockpit crew activated the onboard engine fireplace extinguishers. Meanwhile, slides have been deployed to evacuate the passengers.

Passengers and crew have been evacuated from an Air India Express Muscat-Cochin flight at Oman’s Muscat airport on Wednesday after smoke and fireplace was reported in one of many plane’s engines.https://t.co/zkuLquO9o9 pic.twitter.com/qK1e81kioA

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) September 14, 2022

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According to sources, not one of the passengers suffered any main accidents; some sustained minor scrapes and accidents throughout evacuation.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating the incident.

“The matter is being investigated by the regulatory authorities and also the airline’s flight safety department. The airline is extending all facilities to the guests at Muscat. The airline’s local management and support staff are on hand at Muscat airport for assistance. A relief flight has been arranged to bring back the guests from Muscat later this evening,” Air India Express stated in an announcement.

“While it was on the taxiway, another aircraft reported observing fumes from one of the engines. However, there was no fire warning indication in the cockpit. As a matter of abundant precaution, and following the prescribed SOPs, the crew stopped on the taxiway and activated onboard engine fire extinguishers. Thereafter, the passengers were evacuated from the aircraft,” it stated.

According to an official at Cochin International Airport, the rescheduled flight from Muscat was set to reach at Kochi at 0230 hours IST on September 15.

In a separate assertion, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Oman stated the emergency case associated to the Air India Express accident “has been ended and closed”. “The specialists of the Civil Aviation Authority with all partners in the aviation sector followed up the initial reports of the accident and its causes, which resulted in only some light injuries. The specialists will continue the investigation procedures of this accident in order to determine the causes and factors contributing to its occurrence,” it stated.

In July, one other Air India Express-operated Boeing 737 airplane, on its manner from Kozhikode to Dubai, was diverted to Muscat when a burning odor was detected from one of many vents within the ahead galley.