Full Emergency Declared at Guwahati Airport as Alliance Air Flight Returns Midway Following Technical Snag

On Wednesday, a major safety alert was triggered at Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport after a Kolkata-bound Alliance Air flight was forced to return midway due to a technical snag. The incident led to the declaration of a “full-scale emergency,” as confirmed by airport officials.

The flight in question, operating the GAU–CCU (Guwahati to Kolkata) sector, had taken off from Guwahati at 1:09 pm. Shortly after departure, the crew detected a technical issue that made it unsafe to continue the journey. In line with standard safety protocols, the pilots informed Air Traffic Control (ATC) and decided to divert the aircraft back to Guwahati airport.

Following this, the airport authorities immediately activated emergency procedures at 1:42 pm. The full-scale emergency protocol involved the rapid mobilisation of multiple response teams, including fire and rescue services, medical units, and ground-handling staff. These teams were positioned around the runway and key operational points, ensuring that they could respond instantly in case of any mishap during landing.

The aircraft executed a safe return and landed at Guwahati at 2:27 pm. After the successful landing, thorough safety checks were carried out, and once it was clear that all passengers and crew were safe, the emergency status was officially withdrawn at 2:40 pm.

Airport officials confirmed that no passengers or crew members sustained any injuries. All passengers were carefully deboarded and were immediately assisted by the terminal operations staff. According to an airport spokesperson, the passengers received on-ground support and guidance. The airline, meanwhile, took responsibility for arranging alternative onward travel for affected passengers, ensuring minimal inconvenience despite the disruption.

In addition to assisting passengers, the airport staff stayed on standby to handle any further contingencies, displaying preparedness and efficiency. The incident also highlighted the importance of coordination between the airline, ATC, airport fire services, and medical teams in managing emergencies without causing panic.

Importantly, sources confirmed that the situation was contained swiftly and regular flight operations at LGBI Airport remained unaffected throughout the episode. No other flights were delayed or diverted, demonstrating that the emergency was well-managed without broader disruption to the airport’s schedule.

This event once again brought attention to the unpredictable nature of technical snags in aviation and the critical role of preparedness in ensuring passenger safety. Alliance Air, being a regional carrier, operates several flights in the Northeast and Eastern India. While technical issues can arise in any aircraft, the prompt detection by the crew and the efficient response from Guwahati airport authorities ensured that the situation did not escalate into an accident.

The incident underlined the robustness of aviation safety protocols in India, where every step—from detection of an in-flight issue to the safe landing of the plane and the withdrawal of emergency status—was executed smoothly.

In summary, the Alliance Air GAU-CCU flight’s technical snag prompted a full-scale emergency at Guwahati Airport, but efficient coordination ensured the aircraft landed safely, all passengers were unharmed, and normal operations continued without disruption.