‘Full emergency’ declared at Delhi airport as SpiceJet flight to Leh turns back mid-air after technical failure

A SpiceJet flight carrying about 150 passengers on its way from New Delhi to Leh had to turn back shortly after take‑off on Tuesday when a technical problem was spotted mid‑air, airline officials said.

The Boeing 737 aircraft, operating as flight SG121, made a safe return to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, and all passengers were disembarked normally with no injuries reported.

The crew detected an issue with one of the engines soon after departure, leading them to call off the flight as a precaution. The problem appeared to involve a malfunction in the plane’s second engine, leading the pilots to head back to Delhi rather than continue to the high‑altitude destination of Leh.

A SpiceJet spokesperson told PTI that a technical snag led to the aircraft’s return. “The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers were disembarked normally,” the airline said in a statement, adding that the plane was being inspected and alternate arrangements for travellers were expected.

Additionally, a full emergency was declared at Delhi airport when the SpiceJet flight from Delhi to Leh had to return because of a problem with one of its engines, reported the Hindustan Times.

Leh’s terrain and weather require aircraft to be in top operational condition, making reliability especially important on this route.