Mid-Air Scare: Air India Flight Faces Trouble, Pilot Turns Back Just in Time

Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): A Phuket-bound Air India Express flight that was originally scheduled to land in Phuket at 11.45 am on Saturday returned to Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport shortly after take-off due to a technical snag.

Flight IX110, operated by a Boeing 737 Max 8, took off for its destination but returned to Hyderabad after a flight of just 16 minutes, leaving passengers disappointed.

An Air India Express spokesperson said in a statement: Shortly after take-off, the crew of one of our flights exercised an abundance of caution and decided to return to Hyderabad due to a technical snag.

The spokesperson further added, “We arranged an alternate aircraft on priority basis, refreshments were provided to guests during the delay, and the flight departed. We regret the inconvenience caused and reiterate that safety is our top priority in every aspect of our operations.”

Passengers shared their difficult experience on social media and said they were made to wait inside the plane without any clear information from the airline.

"Flight IX110 from Hyderabad to Phuket returned after takeoff. No update yet, we are waiting inside the plane. Disappointing," an affected passenger wrote on social media platform X.

Another passenger posted: “Thank you Air India Express for making me realise I will never take your flights in the future.”

In a message posted earlier on X, the airline said it apologised for the inconvenience caused by the flight disruption.

The airline said, “Please note that the delay is due to technical reasons, as the safety of our passengers is our top priority. We are working on resolving the issue and are currently awaiting updated ETDs. Our team will keep you informed and provide necessary assistance regarding departure times. We apologize once again and look forward to providing you with a better experience the next time you fly with us.”