IndiGo flight returns safely to Heathrow after emergency

An IndiGo flight from London to New Delhi returned safely to Heathrow on September 22 after its crew declared an emergency shortly after takeoff, the airline said. IndiGo attributed the turnback to a technical issue but did not disclose its nature. All passengers disembarked safely, according to the airline’s statement. Flight 6E4, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, had departed Heathrow for Delhi. Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft turned back over the English Channel and returned to the airport. Accounts of the flight’s path place its departure shortly after 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday, while IndiGo’s statement identifies the incident as occurring on September 22. The sources differ on how long the plane had been airborne, so the precise duration is unclear. IndiGo said the pilots detected a technical issue shortly after takeoff and turned back in accordance with standard procedures. The airline did not identify the fault. Flight-tracking data indicated the aircraft declared an emergency before returning, which enabled it to receive priority handling, according to accounts of the flight’s movements.