IndiGo flight from Raipur diverted to Bengaluru due to Diwali smoke
Poor visibility caused by firecracker smoke during Diwali celebrations forced a Chennai-bound aircraft to change its landing destination on Sunday night.
An IndiGo flight travelling from Raipur to Chennai was diverted to Bengaluru on Sunday night because of low visibility caused by firecracker smoke, according to The Times of India.
The aircraft, flight 6E2002, was carrying 78 passengers and was expected to land at Chennai airport at 10.45 pm.
The pilot diverted the plane to Bengaluru at 11.15 pm after finding that runway visibility was below the minimum requirement for landing. Chennai airport authorities stated that visibility was approximately 900 metres, while the minimum runway visual range (RVR) needed for runway 07 is 950 metres.
Airport authorities said the diversion was a precautionary measure taken by the pilot based on visibility levels during the approach. They noted that other flights managed to land and take off as visibility improved shortly after.
The aircraft, registered as VT-ILJ, eventually flew to Chennai and arrived at 1.54 am.