Bengaluru: A potential aviation crisis was averted after a Fly91 flight encountered a technical snag mid-journey, forcing it to remain airborne for hours and triggering panic among passengers.

Fly91 Airlines flight IC3401, an ATR turboprop (AT7), departed from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad at around 3 pm on Sunday and was scheduled to land in Hubballi by 4:30 pm. However, as the aircraft neared its destination, pilots reportedly detected a technical fault and aborted the landing.

The aircraft then stayed in the air for nearly four hours, circling over parts of Uttara Kannada, Davanagere, and Shivamogga while the crew worked to stabilise the situation and identify a safe course of action.

Passengers on board described tense scenes, with many gripped by fear, praying, and some breaking down during the prolonged ordeal.

Family members of those on board later voiced anger at the airline, alleging poor communication and claiming that they received little to no updates during the emergency.

After several tense hours, the flight was eventually diverted and landed safely at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru at around 7:30 pm, bringing the situation to a close without any reported injuries.