Alliance Air flight carrying 63 passengers, including Union Minister returns after technical snag

An Alliance Air flight carrying 63 passengers onboard, including Union Minister Mahesh Sharma, returned to IGI Airport within half-an-hour of taking off, following a technical snag.

The Gorakhpur-bound ATR 72 aircraft, however, landed back safely. Alliance Air is the regional arm of the national carrier Air India conforming that the aircraft had to return within half-an-hour of its take off from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Air India spokesperson said the matter is being probed.

The Union Minister for Tourism and Culture was later flown to the destination by another flight, sources said. Sharma has also held the position of Minister of State for Civil Aviation in the past.