IndiGo flight develops crack in windshield, returns to Kolkata

A Bengaluru-bound IndiGo flight returned to Kolkata today after developing a crack in the windshield, shortly after take-off, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said.

The IndiGo flight, with 168 passengers on board, made its way back to the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport here, a little over 15 minutes after take-off.

"On Sunday... at around 1015 hrs IndiGo 6E345 Kolkata-Bengaluru returned due to a windshield crack. It landed safely at around 1034 hrs," the AAI official said.

A statement from IndiGo said the aircraft had to return to Kolkata, owing to inclement weather in the morning.

"Due to severe weather conditions witnessed in Kolkata this morning, an IndiGo flight... suffered minor damage on the outer surface of the windshield. Following standard operating procedures, the pilot returned to Kolkata for further inspection," it said.

The windshield is currently being replaced, and the passengers are being accommodated in another flight, an IndiGo spokesperson said.