Air India Flight Returns to Mumbai After Burning Smell Reported From Plane

New Delhi: An Air India flight bound for London was forced to return to Mumbai after passengers and crew reported a burning smell on board. More details regarding the incident are awaited.

The fresh incident comes days after a major tragedy involving Air India. On June 12, flight AI 171 crashed into a hostel complex in Ahmedabad shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The disaster claimed 270 lives, including 241 passengers and crew members. Only one passenger survived the crash.

Black Box Recovered for Investigation

Investigators retrieved the black box of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from the crash site on June 13. The black box, which records critical flight data and cockpit conversations, is a key instrument in determining the cause of air accidents.

Responding to speculation that the black box might be sent abroad for analysis, Civil Aviation Minister Naidu said such reports were unfounded.

“It is all speculation. The black box is very much in India and is currently being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB),” he stated.

When pressed about how soon the data might be decoded, Naidu urged patience and stressed that technical experts should be allowed to complete the process without external pressure.

“Let the AAIB conduct the probe and go through the entire process,” he added.