New Delhi, India: A SpiceJet aircraft operating on the SG-121 Delhi–Leh route made an emergency return to Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) early Tuesday morning after the flight crew detected a technical malfunction in one of the aircraft’s engines shortly after takeoff.
The Boeing 737-700 jet, carrying approximately 150 passengers and crew, departed Delhi at about 6:21 a.m. IST but initiated an immediate air return within minutes of takeoff when indications of a problem with engine number two emerged.
Airport officials confirmed that a “full emergency” was declared at IGI to ensure all runway and rescue units were positioned for a potential unscheduled landing. Fire tenders, ambulances, and medical teams were on standby as standard safety procedures were executed.
Despite the onboard alert, there were no fire warnings in the cockpit, according to a statement released by SpiceJet. The flight crew reported the technical anomaly to Air Traffic Control and returned to the departure airport without further incident.
The aircraft landed safely at IGI at around 6:55 a.m. IST, with all passengers disembarking normally. There were no injuries reported, and airport operations resumed shortly thereafter.
A SpiceJet spokesperson reiterated that the decision to return was a precautionary measure following the technical issue. “The aircraft landed safely in Delhi, and all passengers disembarked normally,” the airline said in its official comment.
Preliminary flight tracking data indicates the jet had begun its climb and had reached approximately 9,000 feet when sparks were observed from the right-hand engine, prompting the flight crew to halt the ascent and return to Delhi.
The Delhi-Leh route is among India’s more challenging due to high altitude terrain and stringent operational standards. Airlines typically maintain strict maintenance protocols to mitigate technical risks on such segments.
