Odisha bound Air India Express flight turns back to Kolkata following mid air snag
Times of India | 9 January 2024
KOLKATA: A Bhubaneshwar bound packed Air India Express aircraft from Kolkata returned from mid-air and made an emergency landing at Kolkata airport on Monday evening following a technical snag when fliers claimed to have heard the sound of something bursting while the plane was in the air.
The Kolkata - Bhubaneswar - Bengaluru flight I5 1563 had taken off from Kolkata airport at 5.10pm, more than 40 mins from its scheduled departure time.The take-off was smooth but according to passengers when the flight was in the air, around 5.40pm, they heard a bursting sound.
“There was a sound similar to something bursting and then the aircraft began to experience turbulence. The air hostesses who were serving food rushed to their corners and asked everyone to wear their seatbelts. The situation was scary,” said Sandipan Basu Mullick, who works at a hotel chain and was inside the flight at the time of the incident.
Passengers said, after some tense moments, there was an announcement from the pilot announcing a “technical snag” in the aircraft engine as he said that he was taking the flight back to Kolkata for emergency check.
The flight landed at Kolkata airport at 6.05pm as teams of engineers, airline staff and airport officials rushed to the taxi bay where the flight got parked. “We could also see fire tenders and ambulances approaching. We were asked not to panic and stay inside the flight for a good 45 minutes when the officials ran a check before they escorted us out of the aircraft and to the airport terminal,” said Basu Mullick, a Garia resident. The flight was undergoing furthers checks till late in the evening.
At the terminal, the airline staff had difficulty in calming down the passengers for sometime before they were able to arrange a separate flight for them. The new flight with all passengers took off at 8pm.
An Air India Express spokesperson said: “Our flight from Kolkata to Bhubaneswar made a safe air turn back and precautionary landing post a technical issue. We are making alternate arrangements for our guests and we apologise for the inconvenience caused. Air India Express would like to reiterate that our unwavering commitment to the safety and security of our guests remains paramount.”
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