NEW DELHI: Passengers on an IndiGo Airbus A321neo were evacuated from the aircraft at Bengaluru airport using emergency slides after smoke was detected in the cabin while the plane was taxiing toward the runway for a scheduled departure to Chennai. The incident occurred on a taxiway, prompting immediate action from the crew. India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has launched an investigation into the matter.
IndiGo Statement on the Incident
In an official statement, IndiGo confirmed the event: 'On May 26, 2026, while IndiGo flight 6E 6017 from Bengaluru to Chennai was taxing out to the runway for departure, smoke was noticed in the aircraft. In the interest of safety, an immediate evacuation was carried out, and all relevant authorities were informed. All customers and crew are safe and have been moved to the terminal, where they are being attended to by our teams to ensure their well-being.'
The airline further added: 'An alternate aircraft has been arranged to operate the flight, which will depart shortly. Refreshments are being served to the customers to ease their wait time. At IndiGo, the safety of our customers and crew remains our top priority.'
Second Emergency Evacuation in May
This marks the second emergency evacuation IndiGo has conducted this month. On May 5, all passengers aboard a Hyderabad-Chandigarh flight were evacuated at the destination using slides after a personal electronic device caught fire. The DGCA is also reviewing that incident.
The quick response by the crew in both cases ensured no injuries were reported. IndiGo continues to cooperate with regulatory authorities to determine the cause of the smoke and prevent future occurrences.
