IndiGo A320 suffers minor fire at Kathmandu. All passengers safe.

An IndiGo airlines Airbus A320-232 bearing registration VT-IEU performing flight 6E-031 from New Delhi, Indira Gandhi airport, India to Kathmandu Tribuvan airport, Nepal, with 175 passengers, 1 infant and 6 crew members has just made a normal landing around 12:35 local (12:20 IST 06:50 UTC).

After taxiing and parking at the stand, around 12:39 the ground engineer observed smoke and fire from the right brake assembly and advised evacuation of all passengers and crew. 171 passengers were evacuated via the escape slides, by which time the fire was under control. The balance passengers and crew disembarked the aircraft via the forward step ladder.

The airline further said

“All passengers were evacuated by the IndiGo crew in 81 seconds. All 175 passengers, 1 infant and 6 crew members are safe.

The Delhi – Kathmandu passengers have already got their baggage and are leaving the airport.

IndiGo is in touch with the DGCA to seek permission to send another aircraft to bring back the passengers booked on the Kathmandu-Delhi flight. Subject to DGCA approval, we hope to operate the Kathmandu-Delhi flight at 9 pm Kathmandu time.

The Kathmandu-Delhi passengers who had arrived at the airport are being accommodated in a hotel nearby till the Kathmandu-Delhi flight is ready to depart at night.

IndiGo’s Chief of Safety, Captain Dhruv is expected to land in Kathmandu by this evening.

Further investigations are underway.

Safety of all its passengers and crew is of utmost importance to IndiGo and there is absolutely no compromise on safety.

About Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

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