IndiGo Flight Issues ‘Fuel Mayday,’ Makes Emergency Landing in Bengaluru

Just days after Air India crash, IndiGo flight with 168 passengers diverts to Bengaluru due to low fuel after ATC congestion

Bengaluru : In a concerning aviation incident, an IndiGo flight carrying 168 passengers issued a ‘Fuel Mayday’ call mid-air and made an emergency landing at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. The incident, which took place on June 19, surfaced only recently, further intensifying concerns following a tragic Air India crash that killed over 270 people.

According to sources, IndiGo flight 6E-6764 had departed from Guwahati and was en route to Chennai. However, due to air traffic congestion at Chennai International Airport, the flight was rerouted to Bengaluru. As the aircraft’s fuel reserves neared critical levels, the pilot issued a distress call, declaring a ‘Fuel Mayday’ — a standard emergency protocol indicating the aircraft required immediate landing due to insufficient fuel.

Upon receiving the distress signal, Bengaluru Air Traffic Control (ATC) immediately prioritized the flight. Emergency protocols were swiftly activated, with medical and fire response teams deployed on standby at the airport. The aircraft landed safely at 8:20 p.m. without any harm to passengers or crew.

IndiGo spokesperson Rashmi, stated that no official statement had been released on the matter. “The pilot issued a ‘Fuel Mayday’ as the flight was rerouted from Chennai to Bengaluru International Airport due to ATC congestion,” she confirmed, adding that declaring such a mayday is a routine safety measure in aviation when fuel levels reach emergency thresholds.

The mid-air emergency understandably sparked anxiety among passengers and crew, especially as it occurred in the shadow of a devastating Air India crash. That earlier incident involved a flight from Ahmedabad that went down shortly after its own ‘Mayday’ call, claiming more than 270 lives.

Following the emergency landing, the aircraft was inspected and later resumed its journey to Chennai with a different crew, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to look into the incident, especially in light of back-to-back emergencies involving Indian commercial airlines. While no injuries or damages were reported in the IndiGo case, the incident has raised questions about air traffic management and contingency planning at busy airports.

For now, all 168 passengers on board are safe — but the back-to-back emergencies have left the aviation community on high alert.