By – Shubhendra Singh Rajawat
In a series of aviation incidents reported in the past 24 hours, multiple flights were forced to make emergency or precautionary landings due to technical issues, raising serious concerns about aircraft safety and maintenance protocols.
Indigo Flight to Leh Makes Emergency Landing in Delhi
An IndiGo flight (6E 2006), which had taken off from Delhi to Leh, was forced to return to the national capital after a technical malfunction was detected mid-air. The flight remained airborne for over two hours before executing an emergency landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi.
According to airline officials, the flight encountered a technical snag soon after departure. Due to operational constraints in Leh, the pilot made a decision to return to Delhi for passenger safety. Passengers were visibly anxious during the ordeal but were later safely deboarded, and arrangements were made for an alternate aircraft to fly them to Leh.
“Necessary maintenance is being carried out before the aircraft resumes operations,” IndiGo said in a statement.
SpiceJet Hyderabad–Tirupati Flight Returns After Malfunction
In another incident, a SpiceJet flight (SG 2696) from Hyderabad to Tirupati also experienced a technical issue shortly after takeoff. The flight was scheduled to depart at 6:10 AM but was delayed and took off at 6:19 AM. Minutes into the flight, the crew noticed a malfunction and the aircraft was brought back to Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport for a precautionary landing.
GMRA’s Public Relations Officer confirmed that the flight landed safely and all passengers were unharmed. The airline is investigating the cause of the issue and an alternate flight was arranged.
Air India’s San Francisco–Mumbai Flight Hit by Engine Trouble
Earlier this week, an Air India flight (AI 180) operating between San Francisco and Mumbai reported engine trouble during a scheduled stopover in Kolkata. The Dreamliner aircraft landed at 12:45 AM but suffered a technical failure in its left engine, causing a delay in onward travel.
Passengers were asked to disembark around 5:20 AM after the captain informed them of the engine snag. Air India emphasized that the decision was made purely for flight safety.
AI Dreamliner From Hong Kong to Delhi Returns Mid-Air
In a similar case, Air India’s Hong Kong–Delhi flight (AI 315) operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner also faced a suspected technical issue mid-flight. The pilot decided to return to Hong Kong as a safety precaution. The aircraft is currently undergoing inspection before it is cleared for further operations.
Aviation Safety Under the Spotlight
These back-to-back incidents have raised concerns among flyers and regulators alike. While no injuries have been reported in any of the cases, aviation authorities are expected to carry out detailed inspections and possibly issue directives to ensure technical compliance and passenger safety.
With a sharp rise in air travel during the summer season, airlines are under pressure to maintain high standards of aircraft maintenance and pilot preparedness.