After a 17-year hiatus, Scandinavian carrier SAS was set to resume flights to India with an early morning arrival in Mumbai on Wednesday. However, the inaugural flight had to turn back mid-way due to unresolved regulatory approvals.
Flight Details and Diversion
Flight SK969 departed from Copenhagen for Mumbai on Tuesday at around 8:30 PM local time, approximately four hours behind schedule, according to Flightradar24, a flight-tracking service. About four hours into the journey, while the Airbus A330 was flying over Azerbaijan, it reversed course and returned to Copenhagen.
Airline Statement
In a statement, the airline explained: “The Copenhagen–Mumbai flight returned to Copenhagen after the final approval expected from the authorities was not issued as anticipated. SAS completed all necessary operational and regulatory preparations for the launch following several months of planning and coordination. Based on ongoing discussions with the relevant authorities, SAS had every expectation that the remaining formal approval would be finalised while the flight was en route. As the approval was not finalised as anticipated, the flight could not continue as planned.”
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) did not respond to a query from the Times of India.
Passenger Support and Future Plans
The airline added: “Our immediate focus is on supporting affected passengers and securing the remaining approval is obtained in order to commence service as soon as possible. The safety and security of our passengers, colleagues and operations is never compromised.” SAS confirmed they are ready to begin operations and expect the service to launch within the next couple of days once formal approval is granted.
“The Copenhagen–Mumbai service marks SAS’ return to India after 17 years and is an important addition to our network, strengthening connectivity between Scandinavia and one of the world’s fastest-growing markets. We look forward to welcoming customers onboard very soon and continuing this route as planned,” the airline concluded.
