PATNA: A SpiceJet flight enroute Delhi to Shillong (SEJ-2950) was forced to make an emergency landing at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in Patna on Monday after it developed a technical glitch mid-flight.
The incident unfolded at around 8.52 am and ended without any injury or harm to the 80 passengers and the crew onboard, officials at the Patna airport said.
The flight, originally bound for Shillong, was diverted as a precautionary measure when the technical issue arose. The captain alerted air traffic control and emergency protocols were activated to ensure a safe landing at the Patna airport.
Patna airport director Anchal Prakash said,"A Delhi-Shillong SpiceJet flight experienced a technical issue that necessitated its diversion to Patna. The aircraft landed safely at 8.52 am on Monday morning."
Prakash said that all passengers and the crew members onboard are safe. Alternative arrangements were being made to facilitate the passengers' onward journey, he added.
Authoritative sources said that the cockpit windshield of the flight encountered a crack after being hit by a bird, following which it had to make an emergency landing at the Patna airport.
The flight, which took off from Delhi airport at 7.30 am, was scheduled to land at Shillong airport at 10.05 am. "A major incident was averted due to the pilot's presence of mind," said an official on condition of anonymity.
As per reports, the flight was about one km away from Patna airport when the pilot noticed the technical glitch. The pilot immediately contacted the ATC and after getting clearance, diverted the flight towards Patna airport. SpiceJet is yet to issue any official statement on the emergency landing of the flight.