Air India’s pilots on a flight to New Delhi made an urgent plea to air traffic controllers in Hong Kong. The plane was 90 minutes into its flight from Hong Kong, when the pilots contacted air traffic controllers.
They had become concerned that the plane had developed technical problems and asked for permission to return to base. A recording of their exchange with air traffic controllers in Hong Kong has been released to social media channels. A pilot said: “We would like to stay closer to Hong Kong. Maybe we will come back and land in Hong Kong once we sort out the problem.”
He then suddenly pleaded: “We don’t want to continue further.”
The air traffic controller immediately consented to the request and gave the pilot new coordinates for the flight.
A number of Air India planes have been cancelled for a number of issues in the wake of the horrific crash in Ahmedabad last week that killed 241 people on board flight AI171.
On Monday, flight AI2493 from Mumbai to Ahmedabad was cancelled after facing delays due to operational issues.
The Airbus A321-211 (VT-PPL), assigned to operate the flight, was initially delayed for unspecified reasons.
An Air India Express flight from Delhi to Ranchi was also forced to return to the capital shortly after take-off due to suspected technical issues.
Meanwhile, the family of three Britons who perished in last week’s crash have called on the UK Government to provide more support in India.
Akeel Nanabawa, Hannaa Vorajee and Sara Nanabawa, aged four, were returning home to Gloucester when disaster struck.
The family are still waiting for the bodies of their loved ones to be returned after waiting for three days and having submitted DNA samples.
A family spokesperson told the BBC: “We’re not asking for miracles – we’re asking for presence, for compassion, for action. Right now, we feel utterly abandoned.”
A Foreign Office spokesperson said there is an advice helpline and a support centre has been set up near the airport.