doha-bound-ai-flight-returns-to-calicut-after-technical-issue

An Air India Express flight to Doha was forced to return mid-way to Calicut International Airport on Wednesday morning following a technical snag, marking yet another aviation-related disruption in the country in recent days.

 

The flight, IX 375, which had taken off from the airport at 9.07 a.m. with 188 persons onboard, including crew, landed safely at 11.12 a.m., officials at the airport confirmed. The aircraft reportedly experienced issues with its cabin air conditioning system.

 

“There was some technical issue in the aircraft’s cabin AC. It was not an emergency landing,” an airport official clarified, dismissing speculations of a critical failure.

 

Air India Express described the incident as a "precautionary landing" and stated that all prescribed protocols were strictly followed. A replacement aircraft was arranged promptly, and the affected passengers were subsequently flown to Doha at 2.16 p.m.

 

The airline, in a formal statement, said, "One of our flights returned to Kozhikode after take-off due to a technical issue. We arranged an alternative aircraft on priority, provided the guests with refreshments during the delay and the flight has since departed."

Also read: Ahmedabad-Diu IndiGo flight aborts take-off after engine fire

 

"We regret the inconvenience and reiterate that safety remains our top priority in every aspect of our operations," the statement added.

 

The incident comes close on the heels of a spate of aviation scares in the country, fuelling concern over aircraft maintenance and safety standards. On the same day, an IndiGo ATR aircraft aborted take-off at Ahmedabad after its engine caught fire on the runway. Earlier this week, a Vistara aircraft returned to base due to hydraulic failure, and an Air India Express flight from Kochi to Muscat made a precautionary return after a suspected snag.

 

The most severe among recent events remains the 12 June crash of Air India flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London, which killed 260 people, including 52 British nationals. The tragedy has placed renewed scrutiny on emergency preparedness and maintenance audits across airlines.

 

While Wednesday’s Air India Express episode did not pose a direct safety threat, aviation observers note a growing pattern of mid-air returns and emergency procedures, urging the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to intensify its oversight.