Did an Air India Express Flight from Delhi to Jammu Return Midway Due to Suspected GPS Interference?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Air India Express redirected flight due to GPS concerns.
- Alternative transport arranged for affected passengers.
- Incident highlights aviation safety protocols.
- Another flight faced baggage issues at Patna Airport.
- Customer care emphasized amidst challenges.
New Delhi, June 23 (NationPress) An Air India Express flight originating from Delhi and bound for Srinagar via Jammu returned to the national capital before reaching its intended destination due to a case of suspected GPS interference.
As per official reports, flight IX-2564 was scheduled to land in Jammu around noon, but instead, it circled above the airport for a while before the pilot decided to head back to Delhi.
The aircraft had already completed multiple loops within the Jammu airspace prior to its return.
An Air India Express spokesperson stated: "Our Delhi–Jammu flight was redirected to Delhi as a safety measure due to a suspected GPS interference incident. An alternative flight was promptly arranged to transport passengers to Jammu. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
The airline further mentioned that GPS signal interference incidents have been reported while flying over certain sensitive areas.
This occurrence follows a significant incident at Patna Airport involving another Air India Express flight just a day earlier.
Flight IX2936, arriving from Bengaluru to Patna with 180 passengers, landed at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Passengers reported that after both flights landed, announcements were made regarding the baggage belt numbers for luggage pickup.
However, many were dismayed to find their checked baggage missing.
Post-landing, an announcement directed all passengers to collect their luggage from Belt No. 4.
But as they waited, no baggage appeared. Upon inquiry, airline personnel explained that the luggage had not been loaded due to weight restrictions.
This situation caused unrest among passengers, leading to protests at the airport, according to media reports.
Interventions by Air India Express ground staff and CISF officials were needed to soothe the agitated passengers.
Many travelers were notably distressed, particularly those with connecting flights, which exacerbated their challenges, the report indicated.
Media reports state that the airline staff collected contact information from affected passengers and assured them that their bags would be delivered to their residences.