New Delhi — Air India Express found itself in the spotlight on Monday after two separate incidents disrupted travel plans for hundreds of passengers in Delhi and Patna.
In the latest episode, flight IX-2564, which was scheduled to travel from Delhi to Srinagar via Jammu, was forced to return to the national capital mid-flight due to a technical issue. The flight was expected to land in Jammu around noon but instead circled the airport for some time before the pilot decided to divert back to Delhi.
“The aircraft had already completed several loops in the Jammu airspace before heading back,” an official said.
Confirming the incident, an Air India Express spokesperson told IANS: “An alternative aircraft was arranged to operate our Delhi–Jammu flight after the original aircraft returned to Delhi due to a technical issue. We regret the inconvenience caused.”
This disruption follows another troubling episode on Sunday at Patna Airport involving flight IX-2936 from Bengaluru. The aircraft, carrying around 180 passengers, landed in Patna around 8:30 a.m. But after disembarking, passengers were left frustrated when their checked-in luggage failed to arrive.
Initially directed to Belt No. 4 to collect their bags, passengers waited in vain. It was only after repeated inquiries that airline staff disclosed the baggage had not been loaded onto the aircraft due to weight restrictions.
The revelation sparked protests at the airport, with several passengers—some with onward connections—voicing their anger. CISF personnel and ground staff stepped in to defuse tensions.
Media reports indicated that airline representatives took down contact details of affected travelers and promised that the missing baggage would be delivered to their homes.
The back-to-back incidents have raised questions over operational management at the budget carrier, especially during the busy summer travel season. While Air India Express has issued apologies and taken corrective measures, the twin occurrences have sparked concern among flyers regarding reliability and communication.
