Viral Video Shows Distressed Flyers After Weather Forces Flight Diversion

A Fly-91 airline flight (IC3401) operating from Hyderabad to Hubli was diverted to Bengaluru after being held mid-air for nearly two hours due to adverse weather conditions, officials said on Monday. The incident occurred on Sunday, with details emerging a day later. The flight had departed from Hyderabad at around 3:00 PM and was scheduled to land in Hubli at approximately 4:30 PM. However, due to unfavorable weather, the aircraft was unable to land and remained airborne for about two hours. It reportedly circled over the Hubli region for nearly an hour before being diverted and eventually landing at Bengaluru airport around 6:30 PM. The flight, carrying a total of 22 passengers, later resumed its journey from Bengaluru and departed for Hubli at around 11:00 PM. During the extended time in the air, passengers onboard were seen visibly distressed. Videos that surfaced on social media showed several passengers crying, praying, and expressing fear. In the footage, passengers can be heard shouting and appealing for the aircraft to be diverted to a safer location. Some were heard urging the pilot to head toward Bengaluru or Belagavi, while others attempted to calm fellow passengers, assuring them that everything would be fine. According to reports, the pilot informed passengers that the aircraft was in a holding pattern and urged them to remain calm and follow safety instructions. Meanwhile, Fly-91 airline clarified that there was no technical malfunction in the aircraft. The airline stated that the diversion was solely due to poor weather conditions and was carried out as part of standard safety procedures. It emphasized that reports suggesting a technical issue were incorrect and unfounded, adding that passenger safety was not compromised at any stage. Officials also noted that another flight, operating from Mumbai to Kolhapur, had to be diverted to Goa due to similar weather-related disruptions.