Bhopal, India: An Air India flight operating from Mumbai to Bhopal executed a precautionary “priority” landing at Bhopal’s Raja Bhoj Airport on Sunday after the crew detected a technical issue mid-air, prompting the activation of full emergency protocols.
The flight, identified as AI633, was carrying 175 persons onboard, including 166 passengers and nine crew members, according to airport officials. The aircraft landed safely at approximately 3:20 PM, with no injuries reported among passengers or crew.
According to official statements, the flight crew reported a technical issue to Air Traffic Control (ATC) while en route from Mumbai. In line with standard operating procedures, the pilots opted for a precautionary landing to ensure safety.
Airport authorities immediately activated prescribed safety protocols, with coordinated response from ATC, airline ground staff, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and airport fire and rescue services. This ensured a controlled and incident-free landing.
Following the landing, technical teams inspected the aircraft and subsequently declared it unserviceable, pending further checks and rectification of the fault. The airline confirmed that the aircraft would undergo detailed inspection before returning to service.
Air India stated that the crew’s decision to land was taken “as per standard operating procedure” after detecting the issue mid-flight, reinforcing that safety remained the top priority.
As a precautionary measure, the airline cancelled the return leg (AI634) from Bhopal to Mumbai, which had 178 passengers booked.
Passengers onboard the affected flight were safely deplaned, and alternative travel arrangements were initiated by the airline. Some reports noted tense moments during the flight, though the situation remained under control throughout.
Authorities confirmed that no injuries or untoward incidents occurred, and the situation was handled in accordance with established aviation safety procedures. The exact nature of the technical fault has not yet been disclosed, and further investigation or engineering assessment is expected.
