Calicut – An Air India Express flight bound for Muscat made an unscheduled return to Calicut International Airport (CCJ) on Wednesday after pilots detected a technical issue mid-air, prompting precautionary action.
Flight IX 351, operating on the Calicut–Muscat route, took off around 10:45 AM IST with over 170 passengers on board. Approximately two hours into the flight, the crew noticed a technical anomaly and decided to turn back to the departure airport, following standard safety protocols.
The aircraft landed safely at Calicut shortly after 12:45 PM and was received by emergency response teams, though no distress call was reported. Passengers disembarked normally, and no injuries or medical issues were reported.
In a statement, Air India Express confirmed the incident, saying:
“Flight IX 351 returned to Calicut as a precautionary measure after the operating crew observed a technical issue in-flight. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers are being looked after. An alternate aircraft is being arranged to operate the flight to Muscat.”
Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the issue may have involved a system alert in the cockpit, though a detailed technical inspection is underway to determine the root cause. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been notified and will review the incident in line with aviation safety protocols.
Passengers were provided refreshments at the terminal and were updated about the rescheduled departure. The airline said efforts are being made to ensure minimal disruption to onward travel plans.
This incident comes at a time when Air India Express, now part of the Tata Group’s aviation consolidation strategy, is expanding its international footprint while also focusing on upgrading fleet reliability and engineering oversight.
Aviation Safety in Focus
While such turnbacks can be inconvenient, aviation experts underscore that these measures reflect the system’s built-in safety-first culture. “A technical return is always a safer alternative than continuing with uncertainty,” said a former DGCA official.
Calicut International Airport, located in Kerala’s Malappuram district, handles significant international traffic, particularly to Gulf countries. It is one of the key bases for Air India Express operations.
