On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, a routine IndiGo flight from Kolkata to Srinagar took an unexpected turn, prompting swift action from its crew and ground authorities. Flight 6E 6961, carrying 166 passengers, was cruising northward when the crew detected what appeared to be a fuel leak. This discovery set off a chain of events that would test both the airline’s safety protocols and the nerves of everyone on board.
According to reports from India Today and The Hindu, the crew noticed the suspected leak mid-flight and promptly informed the captain. Recognizing the potential gravity of the situation, the captain wasted no time in contacting Air Traffic Control (ATC) at Varanasi. The request for an emergency landing was granted, and the flight was diverted to Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The plane touched down safely at approximately 4:10 pm local time, and all 166 passengers were unharmed.
Police and airport officials in Varanasi confirmed that the passengers were quickly escorted to the arrival hall after the safe landing. Authorities were quick to assure the public that the situation was “completely normal and under control.” For those on board, however, the experience must have been anything but ordinary. Emergency landings, after all, are rare and can be unnerving even when everything goes according to plan.
As details emerged, a bit of mystery surrounded the cause of the alarm. Unnamed sources cited by The Hindu suggested that a faulty sensor may have triggered a false fuel leak alert. This theory, while plausible, had not been officially confirmed at the time of reporting. What was clear, however, was that the incident prompted a rapid and thorough response. A technical team was deployed to inspect the aircraft, aiming to identify and rectify the fault before the plane could return to service.
IndiGo, India’s largest airline by passenger numbers, issued a statement shortly after the incident. The airline explained, “IndiGo flight 6E 6961, operating from Kolkata to Srinagar, made a precautionary landing at Varanasi airport due to a suspected technical issue. As a safety measure, the aircraft has been grounded for necessary checks, and an alternate aircraft has been arranged to continue the journey.” The statement continued, “At IndiGo, the safety of our passengers, crew, and aircraft is our top priority. We appreciate our customers’ patience and cooperation as our teams work to minimise any inconvenience.”
This commitment to safety is more than just corporate speak. In the aviation industry, even the faintest whiff of a fuel leak is treated with the utmost seriousness. Fuel leaks, real or suspected, can have catastrophic consequences if not addressed immediately. That’s why airlines train their crews to react decisively, as was the case on Wednesday. The crew’s vigilance and the captain’s quick decision-making ensured that the situation was handled with minimal risk to passengers and crew alike.
The aircraft involved was an Airbus A320 neo, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24.com. The A320 neo is a staple of IndiGo’s fleet, prized for its fuel efficiency and reliability. Yet, even the most advanced aircraft are not immune to technical hiccups, as this incident demonstrated. The technical team’s inspection was expected to shed light on whether a malfunctioning sensor was indeed to blame, or if another issue lurked beneath the surface.
For the stranded passengers, IndiGo arranged a substitute aircraft to complete the journey to Srinagar. While delays are always frustrating, the airline’s swift action in providing an alternative helped ensure that travel plans were not upended for long. As one might expect, many passengers expressed relief at the professionalism displayed by the crew and ground staff. No injuries were reported, and the airline’s handling of the situation drew praise for prioritizing safety over schedule.
This wasn’t the only aviation scare in India that day. In a separate incident, Air India flight AI191, which had just taken off from Mumbai en route to Newark, New Jersey, was forced to turn back due to a suspected technical issue. The aircraft landed safely back in Mumbai, but both the outbound flight and its return leg, AI144, were subsequently cancelled. According to local reports, the crew made a precautionary decision to return shortly after takeoff, again highlighting the industry’s focus on safety first.
Air travel, while statistically one of the safest modes of transportation, is not without its share of hair-raising moments. The events of October 22 serve as a reminder of the critical role played by well-trained crews, vigilant maintenance teams, and robust safety protocols. In both the IndiGo and Air India incidents, the outcomes were positive: no injuries, no damage, and, perhaps most importantly, a demonstration of the systems in place to protect passengers when things don’t go as planned.
As investigations continue into the causes of both incidents, passengers and industry observers alike will be watching closely for updates. Technical issues, whether due to faulty sensors or other glitches, are an inevitable part of modern aviation. What matters is how airlines respond—and in these cases, the response was swift, transparent, and effective.
For now, the grounded IndiGo A320 neo remains under the watchful eyes of engineers and technicians at Varanasi airport. Passengers have reached their destination, and the airline’s reputation for safety remains intact. It’s a testament to the professionalism that underpins every flight, even when the unexpected happens at 35,000 feet.
With safety checks ongoing and lessons learned, both IndiGo and Air India are likely to review their procedures to prevent similar scares in the future. For travelers, these incidents may serve as a quiet reminder: while delays and diversions can be inconvenient, they are often the result of a system working exactly as it should—putting people’s lives above all else.