New Delhi: A Leh-bound SpiceJet flight was forced to make an emergency return to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday morning after the flight crew detected a suspected technical malfunction shortly after take-off.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737 operating as flight SG121, was carrying approximately 150 passengers when the pilots identified a snag during the initial climb phase. Adhering to standard safety protocols, the crew elected to abort the journey and return to the national capital just minutes into the flight.
While the airline’s official statement characterized the incident as a routine precautionary return due to a “technical issue,” unconfirmed reports from sources suggest a more dramatic scene. Some witnesses and sources indicated that the aircraft may have suffered a malfunction in its second engine, with claims of sparks and flames being visible mid-air. However, SpiceJet has explicitly clarified that no fire warnings were triggered in the cockpit, maintaining that the situation was controlled and the landing was executed safely.
Upon landing, all 150 passengers disembarked without injury. The airline has grounded the aircraft for a comprehensive maintenance inspection and has not yet specified the exact nature of the malfunction. “The aircraft is undergoing further checks before it can be cleared for future operations,” the airline added.
The incident highlights ongoing scrutiny regarding mid-air safety, though the airline emphasized that the pilots followed all established safety procedures to ensure passenger security.
