Kannur: An Air India Express flight operating from Kannur to Jeddah was forced to return to its departure airport on Tuesday morning after the crew detected a technical problem during the journey, according to airport officials.
The flight had departed from Kannur International Airport at around 7:40 am with more than 180 passengers on board. However, while en route to its destination, the pilots identified an issue with the aircraft and opted to turn back as a precautionary measure.
The aircraft landed safely at Kannur approximately two hours after takeoff. All passengers remained safe, and airport authorities initiated the necessary inspections to assess the technical fault.
Officials said the decision to return was taken in line with standard safety protocols, placing passenger safety as the highest priority. Further details regarding the nature of the technical issue were not immediately available.
Airline representatives are expected to make alternative travel arrangements for affected passengers following the completion of technical checks.