A Leh-bound SpiceJet flight was forced to turn back to the state capital on Tuesday morning after a mid-air technical problem, the latest operational setback for the low-cost carrier. The Boeing 737 aircraft operating as flight SG121 was carrying around 150 passengers at the time of the incident, a PTI report said citing officials familiar with the matter.
A full emergency was also declared on Tuesday morning when a SpiceJet Delhi-Leh flight returned to Delhi due to a problem in one of its engines, according to a Hindustan Times report.
The aircraft returned safely to Delhi where the passengers were disembarked without incident. The episode adds to the increasing scrutiny of the airline’s operational resilience as it simultaneously pursues fleet expansion and navigates regional airspace restrictions.
A Spicejet Plane engine problem forced a precautionary return
A SpiceJet spokesperson confirmed that the Delhi-Leh service was forced to return after a technical problem occurred.
“The aircraft landed safely in Delhi and all passengers were disembarked normally,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
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The source said the snag was related to the plane’s engine. No injuries were reported and it was expected that alternate travel would be arranged for affected passengers.
Leh, located in the high mountain region of Ladakh, requires aircraft to meet specific operational standards due to challenging terrain and weather conditions, so technical reliability is particularly critical on the route.
Fleet expansion plans amid operational pressures
The incident comes at a time when SpiceJet is working on rebuilding and expanding its fleet. The airline said last week that it intends to increase the number of its operational aircraft to around 60 through a combination of wet and dry leases, along with a gradual reintroduction of grounded aircraft.
“The airline is working to expand its fleet to approximately 60 aircraft through a combination of wet and dry leases along with the gradual return to service of existing grounded aircraft,” the company said in a statement.
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SpiceJet’s domestic market share rose to 4.3 percent in December from 1.9 percent in September, thanks to a 56 percent capacity expansion during the December quarter. The airline plans to more than double capacity, targeting 220 million available seats by winter 2026.
However, financial problems persist. The carrier reported the loss ₹269.27 crore for the quarter ending December 2025, citing higher operating costs and one-off expenses.
Restrictions on Bangladesh’s airspace raise tensions
Separately, Bangladesh banned SpiceJet from using its airspace due to pending charges, according to sources. The restriction has resulted in longer flight routes for certain services originating from Kolkata, including routes to Guwahati and Imphal.
When contacted, a SpiceJet spokesperson said the airline was in discussions with the relevant authorities.
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“These are routine issues in the industry and we are working constructively to resolve them soon. Our flight operations remain unaffected and we continue to operate our scheduled services in accordance with regulatory requirements,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
While the exact nature of the remaining charges was not disclosed, data from Flightradar24 indicated that several flights avoided Bangladeshi airspace and instead used extended routes.
Shares of SpiceJet were trading nearly 1 percent lower ₹16.81 apiece on the BSE in afternoon trade after the development.
