DGCA probe ordered as SpiceJet plane from Goa makes emergency landing at Hyderabad airport
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New Delhi/ Hyderabad: On Wednesday night, a SpiceJet flight from Goa made an emergency landing at Hyderabad airport after smoke was spotted in the cabin. According to officials, the aviation regulatory body DGCA is looking into the incident.
Passengers exited through the emergency exit once the plane touched down safely.
A DGCA official said that one passenger received minor foot scrapes when they exited the plane.
A Hyderabad airport official said there were 86 passengers onboard the Q400 aircraft VT-SQB and that due to the emergency landing, as many as nine flights were diverted on Wednesday night after the incident at around 11 pm.
SpiceJet has been facing operational and financial headwinds in recent times, and it is already under enhanced surveillance of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The regulator had also directed the airline to operate only 50 per cent of its total flights till October 29.
On Thursday, the DGCA official said the regulator is probing the incident.
"SpiceJet Q400 aircraft operating from Goa to Hyderabad landed safely at its destination on October 12 after smoke was observed in the cabin during descent. Passengers were safely disembarked," an airline spokesperson said.
According to the DGCA official, the plane made an emergency landing due to smoke observed in the cockpit.
On July 27, DGCA directed SpiceJet to operate a maximum of 50 per cent of its flights, which were approved in the summer schedule for a period of eight weeks owing to a series of incidents involving its flights.
Last month, the restrictions were extended till October 29.
With PTI inputs