LAHORE: A private airline’s plane had to make an emergency landing at the Allama Iqbal International Airport here on Monday after its cargo compartment was filled with smoke.

According to a spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Fly Jinnah’s flight FL-846 left for Lahore from Karachi with 171 people, including passengers and crew members.

“A distress signal was issued by the captain of the flight from Karachi to Lahore. The captain reported smoke in the cargo area at 7:15pm, while the aircraft was descending for landing. It made a successful landing at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport at 7:23pm,” he said.

In accordance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs), the Airport Authority’s Fire Department was on the site to handle any potential emergencies, he said and added that after landing, all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated using the emergency escape chute system.

He said the fire department completed the inspection of the cargo compartment and cleared the aircraft at 7:57pm.

Senior officials have initiated an investigation into the incident, he added.

There are also reports that one of the aircraft’s engines caught fire.

A passenger was quoted as saying that there was an engine on fire and some smoke in the cabin for 35 minutes before the plane made an emergency landing, which terrified the passengers.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2024