Muscat-Kochi Air India Express flight aborted after smoke detected in engine

There were 141 passengers, four infants, and six crew members on board. All of them were evacuated as a precautionary measure via slides, are safe.

The smoke was detected by another aircraft that was parked behind the Air India Express aircraft, a Boeing 737-800.

In a statement, Air India Express said, “Air India Express’ Muscat to Kochi flight IX 442, with 141 passengers on board, was preparing to depart from Muscat at 1120 hours (local time) today. 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.”

It added, “As a matter of abundant precaution, and following the prescribed SOPs, the crew stopped on the taxiway and activated the onboard engine fire extinguishers. Thereafter, the passengers were evacuated from the aircraft.”

A team of engineers is investigating the cause of fire in the engines, the airline said.

It added, “The matter is being investigated by the regulatory authorities and also the airline’s flight safety department.”

"All passengers were safely evacuated after smoke was detected in engine number two of an Air India Express flight [to Kochi] on the runway at Muscat airport. Relief flight to be arranged," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in a statement.

Air India Express has arranged an alternative plane for the passengers on the aborted flight for their journey to Kochi in India's southern state Kerala.

Two months ago, an Air India flight operating from Calicut to Dubai had to be diverted to Muscat after a burning smell was detected.