Virgin Atlantic flight VS317, carrying 270 passengers from Bengaluru to London Heathrow, was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff on September 6. The aircraft departed Kempegowda International Airport (KIAB) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, at approximately 8:20am, but crew detected a technical fault soon after leaving the ground.
Flight turns back after technical fault
According to the Mirror, the plane abandoned its journey and turned back to KIAB, circling for over half an hour before landing safely. All passengers were asked to disembark after touchdown.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson confirmed the incident: "The VS317 flight from Bengaluru to London Heathrow returned to Bengaluru shortly after departure due to a technical issue."
Passenger safety prioritised
The spokesperson added: "The aircraft landed safely as a precaution and the flight was subsequently cancelled. The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers."
Virgin Atlantic teams are supporting affected passengers and working to rebook them onto alternative services as quickly as possible, the spokesperson said.
Impact and next steps
The flight cancellation left 270 passengers needing rebooking. Virgin Atlantic has not yet announced when replacement flights will depart, but teams are reportedly handling arrangements for those affected.
