SpiceJet Aircraft Returns To Kolkata After Weather Radar Glitch. Third Technical Incident In 24 Hours

The incident happened on Tuesday -- a day when two other SpiceJet flights suffered a mid-air malfunction and a windshield crack.

A SpiceJet cargo aircraft headed to Chongqing had to return to Kolkata

Source : Getty Images

A SpiceJet cargo aircraft headed to Chongqing had to return to Kolkata airport after a glitch was detected in its weather radar following take off. The incident happened on Tuesday -- a day when two other SpiceJet flights suffered a mid-air malfunction and a windshield crack.

"SpiceJet Boeing 737 freighter (cargo aircraft) was scheduled to operate from Kolkata to Chongqing. After take-off, the weather radar was not showing the weather. The PIC (pilot-in-command) decided to return back to Kolkata. Aircraft landed safely at Kolkata," a SpiceJet spokesperson said.

This is at least the eighth incident of technical malfunction happening on SpiceJet aircraft in the last 18 days.

READ | 7 Emergency Landings In 17 Days: Spicejet Flights' Frequent Malfunctioning Big Reason To Worry

On Tuesday, SpiceJet's Delhi-Dubai flight was diverted to Karachi due to a malfunctioning fuel indicator and its Kandla-Mumbai flight did priority landing in Mumbai after cracks developed on its windshield mid-air.

SpiceJet's Delhi-Dubai flight was diverted to Karachi after the fuel indicator started malfunctioning. The Boeing 737 Max aircraft, carrying 138 passengers, made an emergency landing at Karachi airport. After 11 hours, an alternate aircraft of the budget carrier flew to Dubai from Karachi.

Hours after this incident, cracks developed on the windshield of another SpiceJet plane at a height of 23,000 feet, forcing the flight to land in Mumbai.

"On July 5, SpiceJet Q400 aircraft was operating SG 3324 (Kandla-Mumbai). During cruise at FL230 (23,000 feet altitude), P2 side windshield outer pane cracked. Pressurization was observed to be normal. The aircraft landed safely in Mumbai," SpiceJet said in a statement.

On June 19, an engine on a Delhi-bound aircraft carrying 185 passengers caught fire soon after the takeoff from Patna airport. The engine malfunctioned because of a bird hit. 

In another incident on June 19, a flight for Jabalpur had to return to Delhi due to cabin pressurisation issues.