Bengaluru, September 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A London-bound Virgin Atlantic flight carrying around 270 passengers returned to Bengaluru shortly after take-off on Sunday after the crew detected a technical problem, following which the aircraft landed safely as a precaution and the flight was cancelled.
The Virgin Atlantic service, identified as VS317, departed from Kempegowda International Airport’s Terminal 2 at around 8:20 a.m. for London Heathrow. According to an airport official, the technical issue emerged soon after take-off.
The aircraft circled near Tumakuru for more than 30 minutes before the crew decided to return to Bengaluru. It subsequently made a precautionary landing at Kempegowda International Airport.
Bangalore International Airport Limited confirmed that all passengers on board were safe. The exact nature of the technical problem has not been disclosed, and authorities are looking into the circumstances that prompted the aircraft to turn back.
Virgin Atlantic also confirmed that the flight returned to Bengaluru shortly after departure due to a technical issue.
“The aircraft landed safely as a precaution and the flight was subsequently cancelled,” an airline spokesperson said.
The airline said the safety and security of its customers and crew remained its top priority and apologised for the disruption.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers. Our teams are supporting those affected and are working hard to rebook them onto alternative services as quickly as possible,” Virgin Atlantic said.
Flight-status information lists the aircraft used for the service as a Boeing 787-9.
Virgin Atlantic was founded by British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson. The Virgin Group holds a 51 per cent stake in the airline, while Delta Air Lines owns the remaining 49 per cent. Delta acquired its stake in 2013 from Singapore Airlines as part of a transatlantic joint-venture partnership.
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