Turkish Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Kolkata Following Engine Fire Incident
A Turkish Airlines Airbus A330 aircraft, registered as TC-LNH, was forced to make an emergency landing at Kolkata airport on Wednesday after experiencing a serious engine fire. The flight, operating as TK 727, was en route from Kathmandu to Istanbul with approximately 250 passengers and crew members on board when the alarming situation unfolded.
Urgent Signal Declared by Pilots
The pilots of the Turkish Airlines flight declared a PAN PAN signal at 1:38 pm Indian Standard Time (IST). This international urgency signal is used to indicate a serious situation that requires prompt assistance but is not an immediate life-threatening emergency, unlike the more critical Mayday call. The declaration was made specifically due to a "right engine on fire", prompting the crew to request an immediate diversion to Kolkata for a safe landing.
Fire Controlled and Safe Landing Achieved
According to a statement released by India's aviation ministry, the flight crew reported that the fire was under control by 1:51 pm IST. The aircraft proceeded to Kolkata with one engine operational after the failure. Flight tracking data from various sites confirmed that the Airbus A330 successfully landed at Kolkata airport at 2:48 pm IST, ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew.
Details of the Aircraft and Flight
The incident involved an Airbus A330 model, a wide-body aircraft commonly used for long-haul flights. Turkish Airlines, as one of the major carriers operating in the region, has protocols in place for such emergencies, which were effectively executed in this case. The quick response and coordination between the flight crew and air traffic control in Kolkata were crucial in managing the situation without any reported injuries or further complications.
This emergency landing highlights the importance of aviation safety measures and the readiness of airports like Kolkata to handle unexpected incidents. Authorities are likely to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the engine fire to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
