Approximately four hours into the flight, while the aircraft was cruising over Azerbaijan, the crew received instructions to reverse course and return to Copenhagen. According to reports from Aviation24.be, the airline had proceeded without securing final regulatory approvals from Indian aviation authorities prior to departure. SAS executives stated that they had expected the remaining formal permissions to be granted while the aircraft was en route; however, the necessary clearance was not received in time.
As a result, the flight, which had already been airborne for nearly 12 hours in total travel time, was compelled to land back at its point of origin in Copenhagen, leaving passengers stranded in an unexpected reversal of their journey. One passenger described the experience as “absolutely horrible,” criticising the airline’s decision to depart without confirmed landing permission in Mumbai.
The disruption also extended to operations on the ground in India, where airport teams in Mumbai had prepared a ceremonial water cannon salute to mark the inaugural arrival. Instead, preparations remained unused as the aircraft failed to reach its destination.
SAS later confirmed that passengers remained calm throughout the incident and were subsequently rebooked on alternative flights. The airline issued an apology for the disruption and stated that it is actively working with relevant government authorities to obtain the outstanding permissions. SAS also indicated that it aims to resume its planned five-times-weekly Copenhagen–Mumbai service within a few days.
Aviation experts estimate that the aborted flight resulted in financial losses exceeding half a million dollars, accounting for fuel consumption, operational costs, and passenger compensation obligations. The incident represents a rare regulatory failure for SAS and has overshadowed what was intended to be a landmark reinstatement of its long-haul connectivity to Asia.
The Copenhagen–Mumbai route had been positioned as a strategic expansion for SAS, intended to strengthen air connectivity between Scandinavia and Asia. However, the regulatory lapse has now cast a shadow over the airline’s carefully planned return to the Indian aviation sector.
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