Mumbai: A pungent smell emanating from a curry powder packet in a cargo hold triggered a fire alarm in a Frankfurt-bound Air India flight with 235 persons onboard, forcing it to return to Mumbai after being airborne for more than an hour, airlines spokesperson said on Friday.
"The flight from Mumbai to Frankfurt returned at 2.35 am on Friday morning after take off. A passenger baggage containing a spicy curry powder emanated smell in the cargo hold, triggering an alarm in the cockpit. As a precaution, the flight returned," the spokesperson said.
The aircraft AI-191 had no technical fault, he said.
The curry powder was being carried in a soft bag possibly made of leather, and technicians found a pungent smell emanating from it when they decided to check the cargo hold after it landed in Mumbai, he said.
"All the passengers were off-loaded and provided accommodation. The same aircraft took off for Frankfurt at 1350 hours on Friday," the spokesperson added.