Kannur: An Air India Express flight en route to Jeddah was forced to return to Kannur International Airport on Tuesday after the crew detected a technical issue during the journey and decided to take precautionary action.
The flight, carrying more than 180 passengers, had departed from Kannur at approximately 7:40 a.m. and was heading towards the Saudi Arabian city when the issue was identified nearly two hours into the flight.
According to airport sources, the pilots noticed a technical snag and chose to discontinue the journey in accordance with standard safety protocols. The aircraft safely returned to Kannur, where it landed without incident.
All passengers on board were reported safe, and no injuries or security concerns were recorded during the operation. Airport authorities confirmed that the aircraft landed normally and passengers disembarked without any difficulty.
Confirming the development, an Air India Express spokesperson said the flight crew opted to return to the departure airport after identifying a technical issue during the flight.
“The crew operating our Kannur-Jeddah flight elected to return as a precautionary measure following a technical issue,” the airline said in a statement.
The airline further stated that an alternative aircraft was being arranged to complete the journey and minimise disruption to passengers. Meanwhile, affected travellers have been provided with refreshments and hotel accommodation while awaiting their rescheduled departure.
Air India Express also expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and reiterated that passenger safety remains its highest priority.
The incident comes amid heightened attention to aviation safety, with airlines continuing to follow strict operational procedures whenever technical concerns arise during flights.
