Air India Flight Returns to Mumbai After Burning Smell Reported in Cabin

MUMBAI, India – An Air India flight bound for Chennai was forced to make a precautionary air-return to Mumbai shortly after takeoff on Friday after the cabin crew and passengers reported a burning smell. The flight, AI639, departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and was mid-air when the issue was detected, prompting the pilots to initiate the emergency procedure.

An Air India spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating that the aircraft landed safely back at Mumbai airport and all passengers were deplaned without any untoward incident. As a safety measure, an immediate aircraft change was initiated to ensure passengers could continue their journey to Chennai. Ground staff provided all necessary support to the passengers to minimize inconvenience caused by the unforeseen disruption.

While the exact cause of the burning smell is under investigation, aviation sources suggest it could be related to a technical snag in the aircraft's systems. The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of Air India's operational safety following a series of recent technical snags and emergency returns this month.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been notified of the incident, and a detailed probe is expected to be launched to determine the root cause. Air India has reiterated its commitment to passenger safety, stating that the well-being of its guests and crew remains its highest priority. The passengers were later flown to their destination in a replacement aircraft.