An IndiGo flight travelling from Agartala to Delhi was forced to make an emergency diversion to Lucknow on Tuesday evening, 15 September 2026, following a mid-air smoke warning in its cargo hold. Flight 6E6504, an Airbus A320neo carrying 103 passengers and six crew members, landed safely at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport at 6:29 pm. Flight-tracking data confirmed that the flight crew transmitted transponder code 7700 to signal a general emergency while en route, immediately rerouting the aircraft towards the Uttar Pradesh capital.

Emergency Response and Initial Inspection

Upon receiving the diversion request, Lucknow airport authorities immediately put comprehensive emergency response protocols into action. Fire tenders, rescue personnel, medical staff, ambulances, and terminal security teams were deployed along the runway to ensure the aircraft could be handled safely upon arrival. All 109 occupants deboarded the aircraft without any reported injuries. According to reports, an initial technical examination of the cargo bay conducted by ground engineers revealed no physical traces or evidence of smoke, prompting technical crews to inspect sensor systems to pinpoint what triggered the false alert.

Recurrent Alarm Incidents at Lucknow

Tuesday's diversion marks the second time in under a fortnight that a Delhi-bound passenger flight has made an unscheduled emergency landing in Lucknow due to cargo alarm triggers. An Air India Express Boeing 737 MAX operating from Varanasi to Delhi was diverted to Lucknow on 3 September 2026 after pilots received a similar smoke indication in the aft cargo compartment. In that instance, subsequent ground checks also uncovered no visible smoke or fire damage, with passengers subsequently transferred to Delhi aboard a relief aircraft.