Emirates plane makes emergency landing at INIA

A flight of Emirates, EK 653 has made an emergency landing at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) shortly after takeoff.

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) confirmed the emergency landing to Sun Media.

Provisional Information Officer of the MNDF, Captain Azim said that the information received so far say that the flight made the emergency landing after the fire alarm on board went off.

The Emirates flight to Dubai tonight has now been evacuated after the emergency landing.

A passenger onboard, Hussain Sinaan told Sun Media that the plane shook abruptly about 15 minutes into the departure. “Next thing we know, the flight was landing.” Sinaan said. “And the Captain ordered to follow the directions of the flight attendants and leave everything on board and leave the plane.”

All the passengers are currently at the airport lounge.

MNDF said that the Airport Fire and Rescue are active at the scene.

Media Official of MACL said that the flight travelling with 362 passengers made an emergency landing due to a technical issue and no one was injured in the incident.

He said that it is not clear what exactly happened to the aircraft but it has now been towed and the airport has resumed normal operations.

The MNDF official said that no emergency issue has been noted on the plane so far.

MACL said that a decision on the passengers on board would be made by Emirates.