Air India Flight: Air India Flight AIC129, which departed for London from Mumbai, took off on time, but what was to be a mundane international flight became the source of panic in a matter of minutes. Shortly after takeoff, the plane made an unexpected u-turn towards Mumbai, leaving passengers and their relatives bewildered and frantic.
The carrier has not given a definite reason for the abrupt movement, which has raised eyebrows in the aftermath of recent plane disasters.
Aboard the flight were more than 200 passengers, several of whom sensed the plane’s sudden turn but were not immediately explained to by the crew. Travelers’ social media accounts report a combination of anxious quiet and hushed conjecture throughout the cabin. “We’d just taken off, and then we were going around in circles,” one passenger recounted on X (previously Twitter).
This comes on the heels of the horrible crash of AI171 out of Ahmedabad that left 241 confirmed dead. The emotional scars of that tragedy are still fresh, and any abrupt change in flight routes now seems like a red flag.
Passenger family members were spotted phoning helplines, stuck to their phones, worried sick. Many took to social media, asking for news and sharing transparently.
To date, Air India has made no statement on the diversion. An initial rumor suggests an alleged technical malfunction or emergency safety measure, but this remains unverified. Aviation officials will probably look into it quickly considering today’s high security status in India’s skies.
Also Read: Air India Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Thailand following After Ahmedabad Tragedy
Though the plane landed safely in Mumbai again, the secret behind its sudden return is still unanswered. Passengers are safe for now, but unease at altitude continues.
Let us hope this was just a precautionary landing and not an early sign of something amiss. Skies have already seen too much grief; time for answers, responsibility, and most importantly, safety.