Kamal Ghorui
Bhopal: An Air India flight from Mumbai to Bhopal made a safe emergency landing on Sunday after a technical issue was reported mid-flight, triggering full safety protocols at Bhopal Airport.Flight AI-633, carrying 166 passengers and 9 crew members, alerted Air Traffic Control during its journey. According to Airport Director Ramjee Awasthi, coordinated efforts by ATC, airline staff, CISF personnel, and fire and rescue teams ensured a smooth and safe landing without incident.However, passengers reported a stressful experience marked by delays and uncertainty. The flight, scheduled to depart Mumbai at 11:20 am and arrive in Bhopal at 1 pm, landed over two hours late at around 3:20 pm.Speaking to TOI, Bhopal-based businessman Palash Patel said passengers were initially informed of a technical problem before takeoff and told they might be shifted to another aircraft. “There were significant issues right from Mumbai,” he recounted. “We were initially told at Mumbai airport after boarding the flight they would switch us to another aircraft due to technical glitches, but later took-off the same one. When the problem was spotted early, why did they take such a risk?”Patel added that the aircraft circled above Bhopal for nearly 30 minutes before landing. “Even the cabin crew couldn’t explain the delay in landing. It was a frightening experience, though we are relieved it ended safely,” he said. Following the incident, the aircraft was declared unserviceable, leading to the cancellation of the return flight AI-634 to Mumbai, affecting 178 passengers, including three infants.Air India arranged assistance for affected passengers, including refunds for 86 travelers, next-day rescheduling for 81, and alternative travel for one passenger on another airline. Hotel accommodation was provided to eight passengers, while two were given ground transport. All passengers received meals.
