An Air India Express flight, IX2564, en route from Delhi to Jammu on Sunday, June 22, was forced to return to the national capital shortly after takeoff due to a technical issue. The flight, which had departed from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, was diverted back as a precautionary measure upon the detection of the snag. Passengers remained on board while the airline worked to address the situation.
An Air India Express spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating that "An alternative aircraft was arranged to operate our Delhi–Jammu flight after the original aircraft returned to Delhi due to a technical issue." This swift arrangement aimed to minimize inconvenience for the affected passengers, ensuring they could continue their journey to Jammu with a replacement aircraft.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another Air India flight disruption on the same day. An Air India flight from Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram (AI2454) reported a suspected bird hit upon landing in Thiruvananthapuram, leading to the cancellation of its return leg to Delhi (AI2455). While the inbound flight landed safely, the aircraft was grounded for detailed engineering checks, highlighting ongoing operational challenges faced by the airline.
These recent events underscore the importance of stringent safety protocols and prompt responses to technical or external issues in aviation. Air India and Air India Express have been under scrutiny for various operational disruptions recently, and the airlines continue to emphasize that passenger and crew safety remains their top priority.