A morning departure from the capital bound for the Himalayas was cut short on February 24th 2026, when a SpiceJet Boeing 737-700 returned to Delhi after sparks were observed coming from one of its engines during climb-out.
The SpiceJet Boeing 737-700, registered VT-SLA, was operating flight SG-121 from Delhi to Leh with 150 people on board. The aircraft had departed runway 28 at Indira Gandhi International Airport and was climbing through approximately 9,000 feet when sparks were seen emanating from the right-hand CFM56 engine.
In response, the crew halted the climb and initiated a return to Delhi as a precaution. The aircraft remained under control throughout and landed safely back on runway 28 about 30 minutes after departure.
The airline later stated that a technical malfunction had prompted the return to the departure airport. There were no reports of injuries among passengers or crew.
Following the incident, the planned aircraft rotation was cancelled as the jet was taken out of service for technical inspection and maintenance.
Flights between Delhi and Leh require careful performance planning due to terrain and altitude considerations, making engine reliability critical. In this case, the crew’s prompt decision to discontinue the climb and return ensured the flight concluded safely back where it had begun.
