The Airbus A320/Boeing 737 (operated by Air India Express) was cruising at around 36,000 feet over the Ghaghara river in Uttar Pradesh’s Ambedkar Nagar district when the crew detected suspected smoke from the avionics panels (critical electronics bay) at approximately 4:58 PM. As a precaution, the pilots issued a distress call (reported as “Mayday” or “PAN PAN” in different accounts), deployed oxygen masks for passengers, and diverted the flight to Lucknow.
A full-scale emergency was declared at the airport. Fire and medical teams were on standby as standard protocol. The aircraft touched down safely around 5:17–5:18 PM. All 148 people on board (reports cite approximately 134 passengers + 6 crew members, totaling around 140–148) were safely evacuated with no injuries reported. Passengers were taken to the terminal; some were rebooked on alternate flights or provided hotel accommodation. The aircraft has been grounded for technical inspection, and an investigation is underway.
No other incidents were reported on this flight, and it appears to have been a precautionary measure with quick crew response preventing any escalation. This is the primary breaking news story matching your query from March 30–31, 2026. Earlier unrelated Air India Express incidents in Lucknow (e.g., fog-related holding patterns in January 2026) do not match this event.
