Kannur: An Air India Express flight bound for Jeddah returned safely to Kannur International Airport on Tuesday morning after the pilots detected a technical warning related to one of the aircraft's engines during the flight.

The flight, carrying more than 180 passengers, had departed from Kannur at around 7:40 a.m. and was en route to Saudi Arabia when the cockpit crew noticed an engine warning indication nearly two hours into the journey.

As a precautionary measure, the pilots decided to discontinue the flight and return to Kannur. Airport sources said the aircraft remained airborne for some time near the airport to reduce fuel before making a safe landing. All passengers and crew members were unharmed.

Airport officials said a technical inspection carried out after landing pointed to a problem associated with the aircraft's fuel filter system. Engineers subsequently began detailed checks on the aircraft to determine the exact nature of the fault.

"The flight landed safely in Kannur, and all passengers are safe," airport sources said.

The incident comes in wake of heightened attention on aviation safety and aircraft reliability, with airlines across the region maintaining strict procedures for handling technical alerts during flight operations. Aviation experts note that returning to the departure airport after receiving a warning indication is a standard safety protocol and reflects the crew's precautionary approach.

Passengers were provided assistance by the airline while arrangements were made for their onward travel.

The incident follows several recent cases in which aircraft operating in India returned to their departure airports or experienced delays due to technical issues. Aviation authorities continue to emphasize that such precautionary actions are taken to ensure passenger safety and do not necessarily indicate a serious mechanical failure.

Air India Express has not yet issued a detailed statement on the incident. Further information is expected after completion of the technical assessment of the aircraft.