Hyderabad/Tirupati – July 20, 2025 – In an unusual and concerning turn of events, two IndiGo-operated flights between Tirupati (Renigunta Airport) and Hyderabad were forced to return mid-air on Sunday, with both ultimately cancelled for the day. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the incidents have intensified scrutiny over airline safety standards.
1. Flight 6E‑6591 (Evening) – Airbus A321neo
- Departure: 19:55 IST from Renigunta Airport
- Timeline: Shortly after takeoff, the crew detected a technical issue. The aircraft circled near Venkatagiri for approximately 40 minutes before making a safe return at around 20:30 IST.
- Passengers: 221 on board; all safe with no declared in-flight emergency .
- Aftermath: The flight was cancelled. A replacement flight has been scheduled for 08:20 IST the following morning to ferry stranded passengers.
2. Flight 6E‑2696 (Morning) – Same Route
- Departure: 06:19 IST from Tirupati
- Timeline: Crewing detected a technical fault shortly after departure. The aircraft performed a holding pattern and returned safely .
- Passengers: No injuries; all disembarked safely.
- Aftermath: That flight was also cancelled for the day, with passengers advised to seek alternatives through IndiGo customer service .
📺 Passenger Reactions & Ground Response
Social media videos capture visibly distressed passengers seeking answers from cabin crew and ground staff after the forced turnaround and cancellations. IndiGo has still not released an official explanation about the specific nature of the technical issues.
🔍 Regulatory Response & Industry Context
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is reported to be closely reviewing the incident, with investigations into whether safety protocols and technical inspections were followed to standard .
These back-to-back incidents occur against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny following the Air India crash near Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, which killed over 260 people. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu has urged restraint until the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) publishes its final findings .
