Technical Snag Delays Pune–Bengaluru Akasa Air Flight, Passengers Offloaded

Passengers travelling on a Pune–Bengaluru flight operated by Akasa Air faced significant inconvenience on Tuesday after a last-minute technical issue forced authorities to offload all travellers from the aircraft. The incident occurred shortly before departure, leaving passengers seated inside the plane for nearly 90 minutes before being asked to disembark.

The affected flight, QP1312, was scheduled to depart from Pune at 8:50 am for Bengaluru. However, during pre-departure checks, a technical snag was detected in the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, prompting aviation authorities and airline engineers to halt the departure process. As a precautionary measure, passengers were eventually asked to leave the aircraft while further inspections were carried out.

Following the detection of the glitch, the aircraft underwent additional technical scrutiny to ensure compliance with safety standards. According to the airline, the delay was purely due to technical reasons and all necessary protocols were followed before allowing the aircraft to resume operations. After completing inspections and clearance procedures, the flight finally departed at around 1:15 pm, over four hours behind schedule.

In an official statement, Akasa Air acknowledged the disruption and said steps were taken to minimize passenger inconvenience. The airline confirmed that affected travellers were offered multiple options, including rescheduling on an alternative evening flight. Passengers who chose not to continue their journey were given the option of a full refund, with the refund process initiated promptly.

Aviation experts note that while such delays are inconvenient, last-minute technical checks and ground inspections are a standard and essential part of airline safety operations. Aircraft are required to meet stringent safety benchmarks before take-off, and even minor technical alerts can result in flight delays or cancellations to ensure passenger safety is not compromised.

The incident comes amid heightened attention on aviation safety following a separate emergency involving IndiGo earlier this week. On Sunday, a Bengaluru-bound IndiGo flight carrying over 200 passengers was forced to make an emergency landing at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport after suffering a bird strike shortly after take-off from Gorakhpur. All passengers on board were safely evacuated after landing, and no injuries were reported.

Bird strikes and technical snags, while relatively rare, highlight the operational challenges airlines face daily. Aviation authorities continue to stress the importance of stringent inspections, crew preparedness, and rapid response protocols to handle unexpected situations efficiently.

For passengers on the delayed Pune–Bengaluru flight, the episode resulted in extended waiting times and travel disruptions. However, airline officials reiterated that safety remains the top priority, even if it leads to delays. The incident once again underscores the balance airlines must maintain between operational efficiency and uncompromising safety standards in India’s fast-growing aviation sector.