LONDON – In the last few moments, a SpiceJet Boeing 737 Freighter has declared an emergency and is turning towards Bilaspur.
SG7501 departed from Mumbai originally, with VT-SFB being the Boeing 737 Freighter operating for SpiceJet.
This is a developing story.
UPDATE #1 @ 1120 UK time – SpiceJet flight SG7501 is descending through FL120, with Bilaspur looking like the likely diversion airport. It is unclear what the source of the emergency is currently.
UPDATE #2 @ 1121 UK time – SpiceJet SG7501 has disappeared from ADS-B coverage near Korba. Status of the aircraft is unknown at this time!
UPDATE #3 @ 1125 UK time – The last ADS-B message displayed from SpiceJet flight SG7501 was at 12,775 knots doing a speed of 320 knots, whilst squawking 7700.
UPDATE #4 @ 1129 UK time – VT-SFB is a 24.6-year-old Boeing 737-700, having started out life with Xiamen Airlines in August 1998.
It was transferred to Aircraft Recycling International as 2-ARIA in July 2017 before being handed over to Spectre Air Capital in November 2017.
From there, it was handed over to SpiceJet in September 2018, operating cargo operations around India and beyond.
UPDATE #5 @ 1132 UK time – As per @RadarBoxCom, SG7501 has appeared back on ADS-B data at FL100 at 340kts.
UPDATE #6 @ 1136 UK time – The closest airport for SG7501 appears to be Rourkela Airport, with the flight not squawking emergency anymore, as per @RadarBoxCom.
UPDATE #7 @ 1138 UK time – SG7501 has disappeared off @RadarBoxCom again, probably due to a lack of coverage in the area. Last seen at 10,000 feet near Rourkela Airport.
UPDATE #8 @ 1146 UK time – Status still unclear about SG7501, with other sources stating the aircraft is still at 10,000 feet at 323 knots ground speed.
UPDATE #9 @ 1149 UK time – It appears that SG7501 will not be heading to Rourkela Airport and appears to be heading in the direction of Jamshedpur Sonari Airport. Stay tuned for more updates.
UPDATE #10 @ 1153 UK time – SpiceJet Flight SG7501 looks like it will not be landing in Jamshedpur, with the next available airport after that being Kolkata, which is looking more likely at this time.
UPDATE #11 @ 1200 UK time – SG7501 has appeared on @RadarBoxCom once again and is descending into Kolkata Airport.
UPDATE #12 @ 1221 UK time – SG7501 is slowly approaching the base leg for Kolkata Airport, with the aircraft expected to be #3 in the approach.
UPDATE #13 @ 1229 UK time – SG7501 is on final approach into Kolkata Airport.
UPDATE #14 @ 1231 UK time – SpiceJet Flight SG7501 has safely landed in Kolkata following the declaration of emergency about an hour ago.
