The aircraft, operating as Saudi Arabia Airlines flight SV 891, had departed from Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport at 12:05 pm with 275 passengers on board. Nearly 100 minutes into the journey, when the aircraft was flying near Mumbai airspace, passengers reportedly experienced breathing difficulties, prompting the flight crew to initiate emergency procedures.
According to airport sources, the pilot first contacted Mumbai Air Traffic Control seeking permission for an emergency landing. As clearance was not immediately available, the pilot coordinated with Lucknow ATC and decided to return to the point of origin. The aircraft landed safely back in Lucknow at around 1:45 pm.
Airport authorities confirmed that all passengers were safe and no injuries were reported. Medical teams and emergency services were placed on standby as a precautionary measure, though no passenger required hospitalisation.
Preliminary information suggests the issue was related to cabin pressurisation, a critical system that regulates air pressure inside an aircraft at high altitudes. Aircraft typically cruise between 30,000 and 40,000 feet, where natural air pressure is too low to support normal breathing. To address this, cabin pressure systems maintain an internal environment equivalent to an altitude of about 6,000 to 8,000 feet, allowing passengers to breathe comfortably.
Any irregularity in this system can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, or anxiety among passengers, making it standard protocol for pilots to descend or divert immediately if a problem is detected.
Saudi Arabia Airlines officials said the aircraft was grounded for technical inspection following the incident. “The safety of passengers and crew is our top priority. The aircraft will undergo a detailed technical check before being cleared for further operations,” an airline official said, adding that alternative arrangements for affected passengers were being made.
This is the second such aviation-related emergency reported in the region within the past two weeks, raising renewed focus on aircraft maintenance and rapid response protocols at major airports.
Airport officials said a detailed report on the incident would be submitted to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for further review. Passengers were either accommodated on alternate flights or provided assistance as per airline policy.
The incident briefly disrupted operations at Lucknow airport, but normal flight movements resumed shortly thereafter.
