Mumbai, June 28: A Chennai-bound Air India flight was forced to return to Mumbai on Friday after a burning smell was detected inside the cabin shortly after takeoff. The airline confirmed the precautionary landing of flight AI639, which had originally departed from Mumbai for Chennai.
"The crew of flight AI639 operating from Mumbai to Chennai on Friday, June 27, 2025, made a precautionary air return to Mumbai due to a burning smell in the cabin," an Air India spokesperson said. The aircraft landed safely, and passengers were accommodated on an alternate flight. "Our ground team in Mumbai extended all necessary assistance to passengers to minimise the inconvenience caused by this unexpected disruption," the spokesperson added.
In a separate development, the same day, Air India reported a non-specific security alert on one of its aircraft. Following standard procedures, the aircraft was inspected and later cleared for its next scheduled journey. "Air India accords top priority to the safety and security of its passengers and crew," the spokesperson emphasized.
Additionally, an Air India Express flight (IX2564) from Delhi to Jammu was also diverted back to Delhi due to a technical snag. The Airbus A320 aircraft, which took off at 11:04 AM—slightly behind its scheduled time—was expected to land in Jammu by 12:05 PM. However, the aircraft returned mid-air. An alternative aircraft was deployed to complete the journey, according to an Air India Express spokesperson, who expressed regret over the inconvenience caused.
