AI flight to Milan returns to Delhi after smoke in cabin

The flight (AI 137) – carrying 167 passengers – departed from Delhi at 3 pm, but turned back after the pilot suspected smoke in the cabin, an official said. The aircraft landed safely at the Indira Gandhi International airport at 4.40 pm.

“(The aircraft) made a safe precautionary landing with 167 passengers on board at Delhi airport today (Tuesday) due to minor smoke detected in the cabin. Passengers are being transferred to another aircraft, expected to leave shortly,” statement by Air India said.

The incident came a day after a Kathmandu-bound Jet Airways flight was stopped from taking off in Delhi and its passengers and crew were evacuated following a bomb threat. The aircraft was cleared to fly after a thorough security check revealed the threat was a hoax.

This is the third emergency aircraft landing in the past one week. A Mumbai-bound GoAir flight carrying more than 150 people from Bhubaneshwar had made an emergency stopover an hour into the journey following an anonymous tip about a bomb three days back. However, no suspicious item was found after a security check.

Earlier last year, a Milan-bound flight returned to Delhi over a suspected rat sighting.