Fly91 Hyderabad-Hubballi flight diverted to Bengaluru due to bad weather

A Fly91 flight from Hyderabad to Hubballi was diverted to Bengaluru on Sunday after adverse weather conditions prevented it from landing at its destination. Sources said there were 22 passengers on board the flight.

The incident caused anxiety among passengers as the aircraft remained airborne for nearly three hours. Some passengers were visibly distressed, with a few reportedly in tears and praying during the prolonged delay.

The flight, IC3401, departed Hyderabad at around 3 pm and was scheduled to land in Hubballi at about 4.30 pm. However, on nearing the destination, it encountered bad weather and could not land.

According to officials, the aircraft circled over Hubballi for about an hour in anticipation of improved weather conditions before being diverted to Bengaluru as per standard protocol.

“Due to bad weather, the flight from Hyderabad to Hubballi was diverted to Bengaluru. Such diversions are a standard safety measure,” an airport official said.

The flight landed safely in Bengaluru at around 6.30 pm. It later departed for Hubballi at about 11 pm after weather conditions improved, and subsequently returned to its base in Hyderabad.

AIRLINE DENIES TECHNICAL FAULT

In a statement on Monday, Fly91 said reports suggesting a technical issue with the aircraft were “false and baseless”.

“The flight IC3401 flying from Hyderabad to Hubballi did not develop any technical snag as is being reported in some sections of the media. On nearing Hubballi, the flight encountered bad weather due to which it was diverted to Bengaluru as per standard protocol,” the airline said.

It added that holding the aircraft over Hubballi and diverting it was part of standard operating procedures and among the best practices in the aviation industry.

“There was zero compromise to safety. Fly91 has a highly skilled team of pilots, cabin crew and ground staff trained to manage any situation. The airline has an impeccable safety record,” the statement said. “All passengers are safe. There is no issue,” an official added.

Officials also pointed to similar weather-related disruptions in the region, noting that a Mumbai-Kolhapur flight was diverted to Goa on the same day.

- Ends

With agency inputs