Another Mayday Scare After Air India Crash: IndiGo Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Bengaluru Due to Fuel Shortage
Bengaluru, 21st June 2025: Just a week after the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash that claimed 270 lives, another aviation emergency has come to light. On June 19, the pilot of IndiGo’s Guwahati-Chennai flight made a MAYDAY call due to a severe fuel shortage mid-air, prompting an emergency landing at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport.
According to officials, the flight had taken off from Guwahati with 168 passengers on board when the pilot realized that the aircraft did not have sufficient fuel to complete its journey to Chennai. Upon assessing the risk, the pilot issued a MAYDAY call—a globally recognized distress signal in aviation—alerting Air Traffic Control (ATC) of the emergency.
The flight was immediately diverted and landed safely at Bengaluru airport. After refueling, the aircraft later proceeded to its original destination, Chennai. No injuries or casualties were reported. As a precautionary measure, the pilots of the flight have been taken off duty pending an internal investigation.
Echoes of the Ahmedabad Tragedy
The timing of the incident has heightened public concern, as it comes days after the June 12 crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, which had also involved a MAYDAY call. The flight, headed to London, crashed moments after takeoff, slamming into a medical college hostel. All 270 people on board were killed.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), pilot Captain Sumit Sabharwal had issued a brief MAYDAY message:
“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday… not getting thrust. Power is decreasing, the plane is not lifting. We will not survive.”
After that, ATC reportedly received no further communication from the cockpit.
What Is a MAYDAY Call?
The term MAYDAY originates from the French phrase “m’aider,” meaning “help me.” It is the highest level of distress call in aviation, used only when an aircraft is in grave and imminent danger. The call is typically sent over radio to ATC or nearby aircraft to request immediate priority assistance.
DGCA Cracks Down on Air India
In the wake of the Ahmedabad disaster, the DGCA has initiated disciplinary action against three senior Air India officials for serious lapses in aviation safety protocols. Those removed from their positions include:
- Chuda Singh, Divisional Vice President
- Pinky Mittal, Chief Manager (Crew Scheduling)
- Payal Arora, Crew Scheduling Planner
Air India confirmed that these officials have been removed from all roles related to crew management with immediate effect. The airline’s Chief Operations Officer will now oversee the Integrated Operations Control Center (IOCC) until further notice.
The directive was issued by the DGCA on June 20 and became public today. The aviation regulator is expected to conduct further investigations into systemic issues within airline operations and safety compliance.
