Patna, Dec 9 (NationPress) It was a challenging Monday for SpiceJet when, shortly after one of its planes flying from Chennai to Kochi had to make an emergency return to Chennai airport due to a technical malfunction, another flight from Delhi to Shillong was redirected to Patna airport because of a windshield issue.

The incident was confirmed by the Patna Airport Director, who noted that there were 76 passengers on board when the problem was identified mid-flight.

The flight landed without incident at 8:52 A.M., with all passengers reported safe, and the airline stated that the diversion was a precautionary measure.

A representative from SpiceJet mentioned, “On December 9, 2024, a Q400 aircraft from Delhi to Shillong had to divert to Patna after a crack in the windshield was observed. It’s important to clarify that there are three distinct layers of the windshield, and only one layer of a specific window had a crack. The diversion was merely a precaution, and the aircraft landed normally, not in an emergency situation. Passengers deplaned without incident, and the pressurization was stable throughout the flight.”

The Patna Airport Director emphasized that the windshield issue was not due to a bird strike, which typically occurs during takeoff or landing when birds are at lower altitudes.

Since Patna was neither part of the scheduled itinerary nor a layover for the flight, a bird strike was eliminated as a possibility.

The situation is currently under investigation, and the airline is taking steps to address the issue to ensure passenger safety on future flights.

After the mid-air technical problem concerning the windshield, the pilot of the SpiceJet flight reached out to Air Traffic Control (ATC) at Patna, which quickly granted the necessary permission for a diverted landing at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport.

The flight safely touched down at 8:52 AM, with all 76 passengers unharmed.

The airline has promised to attend to the affected passengers, providing accommodations for their comfort.

Moreover, SpiceJet is organizing another aircraft to take the passengers to their final destination, Shillong.

Authorities and the airline are collaborating to minimize disruption for the passengers.

Earlier this year, on January 3, an Indigo Airlines flight heading to New Delhi was compelled to make an emergency landing at Patna airport due to a technical issue concerning the front hydraulic wheel.