Tiruchirappalli, India: A Dubai-bound Air India Express flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Tiruchirappalli International Airport on Monday after the crew detected a technical malfunction shortly after take-off. The aircraft landed safely after remaining airborne for nearly two hours as part of standard safety procedures. No injuries were reported.
The aircraft, operating as Flight IX 611, departed Trichy at around 1:55 PM, carrying approximately 152 people onboard, after a brief delay from its scheduled departure time of 12:45 PM. Soon after take-off, pilots reported a technical snag and immediately entered a holding pattern over the Tiruchirappalli and Pudukottai airspace to burn excess fuel before attempting a safe landing.
After circling for nearly two hours, the aircraft touched down safely at 3:53 PM, triggering emergency protocols at the airport. Fire and rescue services remained on standby as a precautionary measure.
Airport sources said 11 passengers were offloaded following the return. The remaining 135 travellers, along with six crew members, were shifted to another aircraft through a one-to-one transfer process.
Air India Express has not yet disclosed the exact nature of the technical fault. Officials confirmed that a detailed investigation will be conducted in line with aviation safety protocols.
Airport authorities stated that the incident was handled efficiently and that passenger safety was never compromised. Several passengers reportedly contacted relatives after noticing the aircraft was not gaining cruising altitude, sparking momentary concern before the safe landing was confirmed.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to review the technical report once it is submitted by the airline.
