Doha-bound flight returns due to technical snag

A Doha-bound Air India Express flight from Mangaluru carrying 170 passengers was forced to return to Mangalore International Airport due to a technical glitch, about 45 minutes after getting airborne.

The aircraft made an emergency landing safely at the airport and there was no harm to any passenger or crew, an Air India Express official said. The aircraft is being inspected by the airline's team of engineers, the official added. The flight is now rescheduled for Friday at 5.30 am.

"The flight, IX 821, departed from Mangalore for Doha at 5.40 pm. However, when it was mid-air, the pilot detected some technical snag and decided to take back the aircraft to Mangalore," the official said. There were 170 passengers on-board the Boeing 737-800 plane.

Air India Express is making arrangements to fly the stranded passengers to their destination, the official said.

The passengers have been given the option of either boarding the rescheduled flight or get the full refund or reschedule their journey at a later date. Those who have opted for Friday's flight have been provided with hotel accommodation and other facilities, he added.