IndiGo Chennai-Madurai Flight With 60 Flyers Returns To Airport After Mid-Air Glitch
In a mid-air scare on Friday morning, an IndiGo flight en route to Madurai had to turn back to Chennai just 30 minutes after takeoff following a technical issue. The flight, which took off from Chennai International Airport at around 7:55 AM, was carrying more than 60 passengers, reported news agency PTI. Not long after departure, the crew noticed a technical snag and, prioritising safety, made the call to return to base.
The aircraft landed safely back in Chennai, with all passengers deboarded unharmed. The situation was handled promptly and safely; IndiGo has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
Flight Disruptions Continue To Plague Air India
Earlier on Tuesday morning, Air India cancelled multiple domestic and international flights scheduled for Friday, citing “maintenance and operational reasons”.
The airline, in an official statement, confirmed that several key routes, including those to Dubai and Melbourne, were impacted by the cancellations. While the carrier did not elaborate on the specific operational challenges, the abrupt move disrupted plans of many flyers.
For many flyers, particularly those travelling on weekend schedules or for connecting flights, the sudden disruption raises concerns about rescheduling and refunds. Air India has not yet issued information regarding alternative arrangements for the affected passengers.
The airline has urged customers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport and assured that necessary support will be extended to those impacted.
On Tuesday, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson spoke about the multiple flight cancellations by the airline over the past few days. He particularly addressed those on the international routes. In his statement, Wilson asserted Air India’s focus on safety through rigorous checks in the 33-strong Boeing 787 aircraft fleet. The enhanced inspections come after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on June 14 issued a directive for the same, following the June 12 crash.
“So far, inspections have been completed on 26 [aircraft] and these have been cleared for service. The remaining aircraft are currently in planned maintenance and will have these additional checks done before being released into service. Following the review, the DGCA has confirmed that our Boeing 787 fleet and maintenance processes fully meet safety standards,” Wilson’s statement read.
