JAIPUR: A Jaipur–Pune SpiceJet flight had to return to base on Tuesday morning after a technical problem was detected soon after takeoff. According to the official sources at the airport, the aircraft, operating as SG-1077, departed at 4:50 am, about 15 minutes ahead of schedule, but was forced to turn back within half an hour due to a malfunction in the cockpit door system.
The flight had climbed to around 25,000 feet when the pilot alerted Air Traffic Control and sought permission to return. The plane landed safely at Jaipur Airport at 5:15 am. Engineers attempted to fix the issue, but when the fault could not be resolved, the airline cancelled the service altogether.
Nearly 70 passengers were on board at the time. Many complained that they were kept waiting for hours and were officially informed of the cancellation only around 11 am. Several fliers who had connecting flights from Pune said they missed onward journeys, while others demanded immediate refunds. Airport authorities confirmed that complaints had been registered and discussions were underway with the airline.
This is not the first time the Jaipur–Pune route has faced disruption. About two months ago, the same flight was cancelled abruptly for “operational reasons,” stranding more than 60 passengers.
The incident comes at a time when airlines are under sharper scrutiny for safety. After the recent plane crash in Ahmedabad, flight companies have introduced extra precautionary measures and stricter monitoring before takeoff.
Despite these steps, SpiceJet has faced repeated technical issues in recent months. Earlier this month, a Bombardier Q400 arriving in Mumbai from Kandla landed under emergency conditions after losing a tyre during takeoff. The pilot’s quick response helped avert what could have been a major accident.