An Air India flight traveling from Delhi to Ahmedabad on Thursday evening made a return to Delhi airport shortly after takeoff due to the activation of a smoke indicator. Nevertheless, following comprehensive inspections, it was determined to be a false alarm, according to the airline.
The Delhi-Ahmedabad flight AI2939 had approximately 170 passengers on board, as reported by the news agency PTI, citing sources.
The airline issued a statement later clarifying the events, indicating that the aircraft had landed safely in Delhi in accordance with standard operating procedures.
“The crew of flight AI2939, which was traveling from Delhi to Ahmedabad on 27 November, opted to return to Delhi shortly after take-off due to a smoke indicator. This indicator was subsequently determined to be a false alarm following comprehensive precautionary inspections of the aircraft. Adhering to standard operating procedures, the aircraft landed safely in Delhi, and both passengers and crew were disembarked without incident,” stated an official from Air India.
The statement further noted that all passengers received immediate assistance upon landing, and alternative arrangements were made to transport them to Ahmedabad later.
“Our ground team in Delhi provided prompt assistance to the passengers, and alternative arrangements were established to ensure they reached their destination as soon as possible. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused by this unexpected situation. At Air India, the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew are our highest priority,” it added.
This incident occurred just days after multiple Air India flights, both domestic and international, were cancelled earlier this week due to the Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption. In addition to Air India, other airlines, including Akasa Air, also cancelled several flights on Tuesday as operations were impacted by ash from the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted on Sunday, releasing ash that reached heights of up to 14 km, marking the first recorded eruption in history.
