SpiceJet Flight Loses Wheel During Take-Off, Lands Safely in Mumbai

Budget carrier SpiceJet confirmed two separate in-flight incidents this week, though both aircraft landed safely without injuries to passengers or crew.

On Friday, the airline said a Q400 aircraft operating from Kandla in Gujarat to Mumbai lost an outer wheel during take-off. “On September 12, an outer wheel of a SpiceJet Q400 aircraft operating from Kandla to Mumbai was found at the runway after take-off. The aircraft continued its journey to Mumbai and landed safely,” a spokesperson said. After touchdown, the plane taxied to the terminal on its own, and all passengers disembarked normally.

The incident came a day after a Kathmandu-bound SpiceJet flight from Delhi was delayed following reports of a suspected tailpipe fire. Flight SG041, operated by a Boeing 737-8, returned to the bay after another aircraft on the ground reported possible flames from its exhaust. “No warnings or indications were observed in the cockpit, but the pilots decided to return as a precautionary safety measure,” the airline said. The aircraft was later cleared for operations after technical checks.

A tailpipe fire, also known as an internal fire, occurs within the gas flow of a jet engine. Aviation officials confirmed there was no damage and no risk to passenger safety in the Delhi incident.

The operational setbacks come as SpiceJet struggles with financial headwinds. In the April–June quarter of FY26, the airline posted a consolidated net loss of ₹234 crore, reversing a profit of ₹158 crore in the same quarter last year. Revenue from operations fell 34.4% year-on-year to ₹1,120 crore, driven by the costs of grounded aircraft, expenses for their return to service, and weakened leisure travel demand due to geopolitical tensions and airspace restrictions.

Aviation experts said that while both incidents were managed safely, repeated technical issues underline the importance of rigorous fleet maintenance as the airline works to stabilize its finances and operations.