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Key Points

An Air India flight bound for Chennai had to turn back to Mumbai due to a burning smell in the cabin. The airline confirmed the precautionary return and arranged an alternative aircraft for passengers. This incident follows another Air India Express flight diversion due to technical issues. These safety concerns emerge weeks after a deadly Air India crash in Ahmedabad.

Key Points: Air India Flight Returns to Mumbai Over Cabin Burning Smell

  • Flight AI639 returned safely to Mumbai after cabin burning smell
  • Air India arranged an alternative aircraft for passengers
  • Incident follows recent Air India Express technical diversion
  • Comes weeks after fatal Air India crash in Ahmedabad
2 min read

Chennai-bound Air India flight returns to Mumbai due to burning smell inside cabin

A Chennai-bound Air India flight made an emergency return to Mumbai after detecting a burning smell in the cabin, the latest in recent safety incidents.

"The crew made a precautionary air-return to Mumbai due to a burning smell in the cabin. – Air India Spokesperson"

Mumbai, June 28

A Chennai-bound Air India flight returned to Mumbai, its departure location, after being alerted about a burning smell inside the cabin, the airline confirmed on Saturday.

According to Air India, the incident occurred on Friday (June 27) on flight AI639, which departed from Mumbai and was headed to 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 flight landed safely back in Mumbai, and an aircraft change was initiated. Our ground colleagues in Mumbai provided all necessary support to passengers to minimise the inconvenience caused by this unforeseen disruption," the spokesperson added.

In another incident, a non-specific security alert was detected on one of Air India's aircraft on Friday. The aircraft was cleared for the next flight after standard security procedures, the Air India spokesperson said.

A statement issued by the Air India spokesperson said, "A non-specific security alert was detected on one of our aircraft. Standard security procedures were duly carried out, and the aircraft has been cleared for the next flight. Air India accords top priority to the safety and security of its passengers and crew."

Earlier, Air India Express (a subsidiary of Air India) flight IX2564, operating from Delhi to Jammu, was forced to return to its point of origin after a technical issue was detected mid-flight.

The flight, operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft, had a scheduled departure time of 10:40 AM but took off at 11:04 AM. It was expected to arrive in Jammu at 12:05 PM. However, the aircraft was diverted back to Delhi, as per Flightradar24.

Confirming the development, an Air India Express spokesperson said, 'An alternative aircraft was arranged to operate our Delhi-Jammu flight after the original aircraft returned to Delhi due to a technical issue. We regret the inconvenience caused.'

These security concerns have come to light following the crash of the London-bound Air India-171 flight in Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 241 out of 242 passengers and crew members on board.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Thank God the crew took quick action! Better safe than sorry. I was on an Air India flight last month and the staff was very professional. Hope they resolve these issues soon.
A
Arjun K
As a frequent flyer, this is concerning. The burning smell could indicate serious electrical issues. Air India should conduct thorough checks on all aircraft before we have another major incident.
S
Sarah B
I appreciate the airline's transparency in reporting these incidents. Many carriers would try to hide such issues. The precautionary return shows they're prioritizing passenger safety over schedules.
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Vikram M
After the Ahmedabad crash, every small incident feels scary. DGCA should conduct surprise audits of all Air India aircraft. We can't afford to lose more lives due to negligence.
K
Kavya N
My cousin was on this flight! She said the crew handled the situation very calmly and passengers were given refreshments during the delay. But yes, these technical issues need to stop happening so often.
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Michael C
As an aviation enthusiast, I must say Air India's aging fleet is becoming a liability. The government should fast-track the aircraft modernization program. Safety standards in Indian aviation need urgent attention.

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