Air India Express Flight AIX 1253 Diverted to Lucknow After Smoke Alert, 155 Passengers and Crew Safe

An Air India Express flight traveling from Varanasi to Delhi was forced to make a precautionary diversion to Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow on Thursday morning after experiencing a technical issue mid-air.

Flight AIX 1253, carrying 155 passengers and crew members, touched down safely in Lucknow at 8:52 AM local time. Ground emergency crews inspected the aircraft upon arrival following a smoke indication alert in the aft cargo compartment; however, visual checks confirmed no active smoke or damage. All passengers and crew members disembarked safely via standard procedures without incident or reported injuries. Air India Dammam-Delhi Flight Diverted After Handwritten ‘Bomb’ Threat Found in Lavatory, 32 on Board Evacuated.

An official spokesperson for Air India Express confirmed the precautionary landing, emphasizing that safety remains the airline’s primary operational standard.

"Prioritising safety, the crew operating one of our Varanasi-Delhi flights elected to make a precautionary diversion to Lucknow due to a technical issue. The aircraft landed safely, and all guests were provided refreshments upon arrival. An alternative aircraft is being arranged on priority to connect guests to their destination," the airline stated.

Upon disembarking, stranded travelers were transferred to the airport terminal lounge where light refreshments were served while ground management coordinated replacement travel arrangements. An alternate aircraft is currently being ferry-flown to Lucknow to ensure passengers reach Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi with minimal additional delay. Air India Voluntarily Tests All Pilots Beyond Regulatory Norms, Urges Media to Avoid Unverified Reports.

Air India Flight Diverted to Lucknow Due to Technical Glitch

Air India Express flight AIX 1253 from Varanasi to Delhi underwent a precautionary diversion to Lucknow due to a technical glitch.

Prioritising safety, the crew operating one of our Varanasi-Delhi flights elected to make a precautionary diversion to Lucknow due to a technical…

— ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2026

Technicians and engineering teams at Lucknow Airport have grounded the affected aircraft to perform a full diagnostic assessment to identify what triggered the sensor warning. Aviation safety regulators have been notified per standard protocol.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 03, 2026 11:52 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).