Copenhagen:

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) was forced to return its inaugural Copenhagen–Mumbai flight to Denmark after pending regulatory clearance prevented the aircraft from continuing its journey to India.

The incident occurred during the airline’s first direct service between Copenhagen and Mumbai in 17 years, marking an unexpected setback for the route launch.

Flight SK969, operated by an Airbus A330 aircraft, departed Copenhagen as scheduled and reportedly flew for nearly four hours before turning back near Azerbaijani airspace. According to SAS, the airline had anticipated that the remaining operational approvals from Indian aviation authorities would be finalized while the flight was en route. However, the required clearance was not received in time, preventing the aircraft from proceeding into Indian airspace.

Passengers on board reportedly spent several hours traveling before the aircraft returned to Copenhagen. Media reports also indicated that Mumbai Airport had made preparations to welcome the inaugural flight, including arrangements for a ceremonial reception.

In an official statement, SAS apologized to passengers for the inconvenience and stated that it is working closely with the relevant authorities to resolve the matter. The airline expressed confidence that the Copenhagen–Mumbai service would commence operations once all required approvals are completed.

The incident highlights the importance of completing all regulatory clearances before the launch of international air services and has attracted attention within the aviation industry.