Akasa Air flight diverted to Lucknow; runs short on fuel, lands under full emergency

LUCKNOW: A full emergency was declared by Air Traffic Control (ATC) after an Akasa Air flight operating as QP 1503 issued a “PAN PAN” call due to low fuel while en route from Bengaluru to Bhubaneswar, officials said on Wednesday.

The flight was diverted to Lucknow airport following bad weather conditions along the original route.

The flight, Akasa Air QP 1503, of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft (registration VT-YAJ), was carrying total of 194 passengers and crew on board. The pilot-in-command sought priority clearance and requested a clear approach to ensure landing in a single attempt amid fuel constraints.

According to the incident report, the aircraft was diverted to Lucknow at around 8.40 pm due to adverse weather conditions in Bhubaneswar. As the situation developed, Air Traffic Control (ATC) declared a full emergency at 9.02 pm following the pilot’s report of low fuel levels.

Emergency response protocols were immediately activated. By 9.04pm, crash fire tenders were deployed and positioned at designated points along the runway in readiness for any contingency.

The aircraft landed safely on runway 09 at 9.21pm. A minute later, the pilot informed ATC that all operations were normal and no assistance was required.

The plane subsequently taxied to Bay 10, where it was parked at 9.29pm. After confirming that the situation was under control, ATC withdrew the full emergency at 9.30 pm.

Airport officials stated that all standard safety and emergency procedures were followed, and the situation was handled efficiently without any incident.

Akasa Air spokesperson, in an official statement, said, “Akasa Air flight QP 1503 operating from Bengaluru to Bhubaneswar on Wednesday night was diverted to Lucknow due to adverse weather conditions, which were not favourable for landing. The pilot followed all established operational and safety protocols in line with standard procedures. The flight subsequently departed from Lucknow and landed safely in Bhubaneswar at 12.02am on Thursday. At Akasa Air, the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority. We regret the inconvenience caused due to circumstances beyond our control and appreciate our passengers’ understanding.”

Following the landing, three passengers deboarded the aircraft in Lucknow. The flight was expected to resume its journey to Bhubaneswar later in the night.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Bakrid wishes, messages and eid 2026