New Delhi: An IndiGo Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, carrying over 250 passengers, made an unexpected return to Heathrow Airport in London early Wednesday due to a technical problem shortly after departing for Delhi. An emergency was declared, allowing the plane to land with priority at Heathrow, where all passengers disembarked without incident.

Reports indicate that the flight crew detected smoke in the cabin shortly after takeoff, prompting them to alert Air Traffic Control about the emergency situation.

According to flight tracking data from Flightradar24.com, IndiGo flight 6E4 took off from Heathrow around 12:40 a.m. IST and returned approximately an hour later at around 2 a.m.

“A technical issue was detected shortly after take-off on IndiGo flight 6E 04 operating from London to New Delhi on 22 September 2026. Following standard operating procedures, the pilots decided to turn back and landed the aircraft safely at London Heathrow Airport,” an IndiGo statement clarified.

The airline confirmed that the aircraft is undergoing maintenance checks and will resume operations once all necessary clearances are obtained. However, IndiGo has not disclosed specific details regarding the technical issue that necessitated the return.

In response to the situation, IndiGo is taking measures to minimize passenger inconvenience, including providing hotel accommodations and arranging for the next available flights to help travelers reach their destinations with as little delay as possible.

“The safety of our customers, crew, and aircraft remains our top priority,” the airline emphasized.

IndiGo is recognized as India’s leading domestic airline, although it experienced a decline in market share in August 2026. Data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) shows that IndiGo transported 7.887 million passengers that month, capturing 65 percent of the market, down from 67.4 percent in July.