Mid-air panic: IndiGo flight to Hyderabad circles in air for 40 minutes before landing at Tirupati Airport

Hyderabad: An IndiGo flight from Tirupati to Hyderabad was forced to return on Sunday evening over a suspected technical issue. The Airbus A321neo aircraft, operating as flight 6E 6591, circled in the air for approximately 40 minutes before landing safely at Tirupati Airport. There were 221 passengers on board who panicked as the flight circled in the air for 40 minutes.

Flight Took U-turn near Venkatagiri

According to data from flight tracking service Flightradar24, the aircraft took off from Tirupati around 7:42 pm, en route to Hyderabad. The plane reportedly reached Venkatagiri, a town in Tirupati district, before making a U-turn and entering a holding pattern in the skies above the region.

At 8:34 pm, the flight landed back at Tirupati Airport, with all passengers safe. The flight was originally scheduled to depart at 7:20 pm and reach Hyderabad by 8:30 pm, per IndiGo’s timetable.

Last Scheduled Flight of the Day Cancelled

The return of 6E 6591 meant the cancellation of the last scheduled commercial flight from Tirupati to Hyderabad for the day. A video circulating on social media platforms shows visibly upset passengers questioning ground staff about the cancellation and options for rescheduling.

No Official Statement Yet from IndiGo

As of Monday morning, IndiGo had not issued a public statement regarding the cause of the technical issue or the airline’s plan for accommodating the affected passengers.

DGCA Likely to Seek Technical Report

Sources in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) indicated that the aircraft would undergo a detailed inspection before being cleared for further operations. While there is no evidence of any in-flight emergency, the duration of the circling pattern suggests a systems check or fuel burn-off process.

Passengers have been advised to contact IndiGo customer care or visit the airline’s booking desk for updated rescheduling options.