Hyderabad, 19 July (H.S.): An Air India Express flight, IX110, on its way to Phuket, Thailand, made an emergency return to Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport just 16 minutes after takeoff on July 19 due to a technical malfunction. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 took off at approximately 6:41 a.m., returning at 6:57 a.m. after flying into Andhra Pradesh airspace. The flight had already faced a 20-minute delay. While all passengers and crew were safe, details about the malfunction were not disclosed, leading to frustration among passengers who waited onboard for updates.

Many took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their concerns regarding the lack of communication and flight delays. One passenger expressed frustration over the absence of updates, while another criticized the chaotic re-screening process. Air India Express acknowledged the situation, apologizing for the disruptions caused by technical issues and prioritizing passenger safety.

They indicated they were working on the problem and looking into a revised departure time. Passengers were accommodated on a spare aircraft while maintenance teams inspected the grounded plane. The incident has raised concerns about maintenance standards, and aviation authorities may conduct further investigations if necessary.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar