A mid-air emergency was declared as an Emirates plane carrying 309 passengers was filled with smoke.
The plane en-route Male, Maldives from Dubai was forced into an emergency landing in Mumbai.
A airport official in Mumbai said: “The ATC declared full emergency at the MIAL (Mumbai International Airport Limited) at 1359 hrs after a Boeing 777 flight of Emirates (EK 652) from Dubai to Male had to make an emergency landing following detection of smoke in the aircraft.”
After the pilot sent a SOS distress call, Coast Guard crews rushed ships out on standby to ensure the plane was able to cross the sea to reach the international airport.
Emergency services rushed to the scene to greet the airliner as it landed at the airport.
Passengers and crew were evacuated.
