Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

Qatar Airways’ Delhi-Doha Flight Diverted To Karachi Due To "Emergency"

The Qatar Airways QR579, which was diverted to Karachi, is carrying over 100 passengers

New Delhi: A Qatar Airways flight going from Delhi to Doha flight made an emergency landing in Pakistan’s Karachi "due to indication of smoke in the cargo hold", news agency ANI reported. The flight - QR579 - is carrying over 100 passengers.

The airline said another flight is being arranged to take the passengers to Doha.

"Flight QR579 from Delhi to Doha on 21 March diverted to Karachi having declared an emergency due to indication of smoke detected in the cargo hold. Aircraft landed safely in Karachi where it was met by emergency services and passengers disembarked," Qatar Airways said, ANI reported.

"The incident is currently under investigation and a relief flight is being arranged to transport passengers onwards to Doha. We apologise for the inconvenience to our passengers who will be assisted with their onward travel plans," the airline said.

A cardiologist tweeted to complain about the situation. "What is the status of QR579 - Delhi-Doha, diverted to Karachi? No information being offered, no food or water being offered to passengers. Customer care is clueless. Please help," Dr Sameer Gupta tweeted.

In a video message, a passenger, Ramesh Raliya, said many have connecting flights from Doha, but they haven’t got any information about when the aircraft would take-off from Karachi.

The aircraft took off from Delhi at 3:50 am on Monday and landed at Karachi at 5:30 am, Mr Raliya said.

"After landing, they made everyone deboard and wait at the airport. It’s 9 am now," the passenger said in the video message. "They haven’t told us when the flight would take off. There are women and children, and many people have to take connecting flights from Doha," he said.