An Air India Express flight IX 110, scheduled to fly from Hyderabad to Phuket, was compelled to return to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) shortly after takeoff on Saturday, July 19, 2025, due to a technical issue. The Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, carrying 98 passengers, landed safely back at its origin at 6:57 AM.

According to airport sources, the flight took off at 6:40 AM and was only airborne for approximately 17 minutes before the technical snag was detected, which prompted the crew to turn back as a precautionary measure. Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicates that the aircraft reached an altitude of over 10,000 feet before commencing its return to Hyderabad.

An Air India Express spokesperson released a statement addressing the incident. "One of our flights returned to Hyderabad shortly after take-off due to a technical issue. The crew elected to return out of an abundance of caution," the spokesperson stated. The airline arranged for an alternative aircraft to minimize passenger inconvenience. The rescheduled flight departed at 1:26 PM for Phuket. During the delay, passengers were provided with refreshments. The spokesperson added, "We regret the inconvenience caused and reiterate that safety remains our top priority in every aspect of our operations".

Passengers took to social media to express their concerns and frustrations following the unexpected return. One user wrote, "Flight IX110 en route Hyderabad to Phuket returns after take-off," also noting the lack of updates while waiting on the plane. The user later added that an airline staff member informed passengers that they would be transferred to another aircraft. Another passenger described the experience as "very, very scary," stating, "Not sure exactly what's going on with Air India Express planes. We boarded the 737 MAX 8 from Hyderabad to Phuket, flew for barely 10 minutes, and then returned".