Bengaluru(PTI): An Air India Express flight from Bengaluru to Kochi made an emergency landing at Bengaluru after a fire was noticed in one of the engines, the Bangalore International Airport Limited said on Sunday.

All the passengers and crew were evacuated and no one was injured, Air India Express said in a statement. According to sources, the fire was noticed minutes after the take off.

The crew members alerted the Air Traffic Controller and a full scale emergency was declared.

Soon after emergency landing at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru, the fire was extinguished.

"On May 18, 2024, IX 1132 from Bengaluru to Kochi made an emergency landing at BLR Airport at 2312 hrs, due to a reported fire in one of the engines," a spokesperson of the BIAL, which manages KIA, said in a statement.

A full-scale emergency was declared, and the fire was promptly extinguished upon landing. All 179 passengers and six crew members have been successfully evacuated from the aircraft, the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) spokesperson said.

An Air India Express spokesperson said that due to suspected flames from the right engine after takeoff, the Bengaluru- Kochi flight 'elected' to return and carried out a precautionary landing at Bengaluru . The ground services also reported flames, resulting in an evacuation.

"The crew accomplished an evacuation with no injuries to any guests. We regret the inconvenience this has caused and are working to provide alternative arrangements for our guests to reach their destination as soon as possible," it said.

"A thorough investigation with the regulator shall be accomplished to establish the cause,” it said.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Hyderabad (PTI): A gang allegedly manufacturing and trafficking Alprazolam drug in bulk quantity illegally in Siddipet district of Telangana has been busted, NCB officials said on Sunday.

Three people, including a Chemist freelancer, have been arrested in this regard, they added.

As much as 39.470 kgs of Alprazolam worth around Rs 12 crore and Rs 85.36 lakhs in cash were seized on May 15, the Hyderabad Zonal Unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said in a release.

On the basis of specific information, NCB officials intercepted two four-wheelers and two persons when they were exchanging Alprazolam illegally without any valid license.

The search resulted in the recovery of 39.470 kgs of Alprazolam and Rs 85,36,200 in cash, found to be proceeds of Alprazolam sales, it said.

On the basis of a disclosure made by one of the accused about the supplier of the Alprazolam, NCB officials apprehended another person from Hyderabad.

On interrogation, it was revealed that the person who supplied the drug had studied MSc Chemistry. He is working as a chemist freelancer, and he disclosed that he manufactured the seized Alprazolam clandestinely in his laboratory at Prashantnagar here, the NCB said.

All three persons "confessed to their involvement in manufacturing and trafficking of Alprazolam illegally" and were arrested under the relevant sections of the NDPS Act 1985.

Preliminary investigation suggested that they transacted around 150 kgs of Alprazolam over the last five years.

All three accused were produced before the magistrate and sent to judicial custody. Further investigation is ongoing, the release added.