Karachi/New Delhi: A Qatar Airways flight from New Delhi to Doha made an emergency landing early Monday in Karachi after it developed a ‘technical fault’, according to officials. Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesman Saifur Rehman confirmed that Qatar Airways’ flight QR-579 had landed safely at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. However, within hours, all 283 passengers were flown out to Doha on an alternative aircraft sent by Qatar Airways.
Rehman said the Doha-bound flight of Qatar Airways QR579 had taken off from New Delhi at 3.20am (India time). It made an emergency landing in Karachi around 5.30am in the morning. “The captain declared an emergency after detection of smoke in the aircraft’s cargo hold,” Rehman said.
The official informed that the aircraft crew and passengers all disembarked. They were taken to the airport lounge and provided emergency services at the Jinnah International Airport. All of them left safely on the relief flight.
“The pilot requested to make an emergency landing and the control tower and CAA personnel responded immediately given the nature of the problem,” Rehman said.
As the runway was cleared for emergency landing, a flight from Doha, bound to land in Karachi, had to continue circling overhead for a while.
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Several other flights, including Air Lanka’s UL-183, flying to Karachi, had to wait before landing due to the emergency situation, officials said.
Earlier, Qatar Airways said that Delhi-Doha passenger plane landed safely in Karachi. It was met by emergency services, and passengers disembarked it in an orderly manner using stairs.
“We apologise for the inconvenience to our passengers who will be assisted with their onward travel plans,” the airline said.
Qatar Airways said its flight ‘QR579 from Delhi to Doha on 21 March diverted to Karachi having declared an emergency due to the indication of smoke detected in the cargo hold’.
“All flight operations at the Jinnah International Airport are now normal. The aircraft which developed a technical problem is now being inspected at the airport,” the CAA spokesman said.
