A Singapore bound Air India Express flight via Tiruchirapalli with 182 passengers on board returned here soon after take off early today after one of the passengers suffered a heart attack, airport sources said.
The flight returned at 2.40am ten minutes after take off following which the passenger was subjected to a medical check up by doctors at the airport. He was later taken to Apollo hospitals, they said.
Meanwhile irate passengers protested at the more than three hour delay and asked the pilot to take off but he refused citing rules, which mandated that he operate one flight a day. The airline then requistioned the services of another pilot, the sources said.
Twelve passengers were taken by bus to Tiruchirapalli, while the others would leave for their onward destination at 1300 hrs.