IndiGo flight makes emergency landing in Varanasi after fuel leak alert

An IndiGo flight from Kolkata to Srinagar made an emergency landing at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi on Wednesday after the crew reported a fuel leak, officials said. Flight 6E6961 touched down at about 4:10 p.m. local time with 166 people on board, and all passengers and crew were evacuated safely with no reported injuries.

Varanasi police and airport officials said the flight crew detected the fuel leak midair and the pilot immediately informed air traffic control, which cleared the aircraft for an emergency landing. The aircraft landed under controlled conditions and those on board were escorted to the arrival hall. Airport operations resumed after the incident, authorities added.

IndiGo described the landing as a precautionary measure prompted by a suspected technical issue and said the aircraft has been grounded for mandatory checks. The airline said it arranged an alternate aircraft to enable affected passengers to continue to Srinagar. In a statement, the carrier said, "At IndiGo, the safety of our passengers, crew, and aircraft is our top priority. We appreciate our customers patience and cooperation as our teams work to minimise any inconvenience."