Air India Flight Returns To Jaipur Minutes After Takeoff Due To Technical Glitch

An Air India flight en route to Mumbai had to return to Jaipur just 18 minutes after takeoff due to a technical snag. Flight AI-612, which departed from Jaipur airport at 1:35 pm, was forced to turn back and landed safely at 1:58 pm, according to available information.

This is the latest in a series of technical issues affecting Air India flights in recent months. Earlier this week, an Air India Express flight from Calicut International Airport to Doha had to return mid-air following a similar issue. The flight, IX 375, was carrying around 188 people, including the crew. It had taken off at 9:07 am but was forced to return to Calicut at 11:12 am after reporting a snag.

An official from Air India Express clarified that the issue involved a problem with the cabin air conditioning system. "It was not an emergency landing. The decision to return was taken as a precautionary measure," the official stated. Meanwhile, food and water arrangements were made at the airport for all passengers.

In a separate incident, another Air India Express flight scheduled to travel from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport to Mumbai had to abort takeoff late Wednesday night. A cockpit screen malfunction was detected by one of the pilots, prompting the immediate decision to cancel the departure.

"We regret the inconvenience caused to passengers but reiterate that safety remains our top priority," an airline spokesperson said.

These incidents come amid increasing scrutiny of technical reliability across Indian airlines. According to data presented by the central government, a total of 183 technical defects were detected across five Indian airlines as of July 21, 2025.

Of these, Air India and Air India Express accounted for 85 issues, while IndiGo reported 62, Akasa Air noted 28, and SpiceJet had 8 reported glitches.

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol informed Parliament that all technical faults reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) must undergo investigation to ensure appropriate corrective actions are taken.

Over the past few years, the aviation sector has seen persistent maintenance challenges. In 2024, airlines recorded 421 technical snags, compared to 448 in 2023, 528 in 2022, and 514 in 2021.