Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

Mumbai, Sep 12: SpiceJet found itself under scrutiny after two alarming mid-air incidents occurred within 24 hours, even as the airline reported steep financial losses in the first quarter of FY26.

In the latest incident, a SpiceJet Q400 turboprop operating from Kandla to Mumbai lost an outer wheel during take-off on Thursday. Remarkably, the aircraft continued its flight and landed safely in Mumbai without any complications.

“The wheel was discovered on the runway post-departure. Despite the issue, the flight landed uneventfully, taxied under its own power, and all passengers disembarked safely,” the airline said in a statement.

Just a day earlier, another SpiceJet flight — this one bound for Kathmandu from Delhi — triggered a scare after a suspected tailpipe fire was noticed by a separate aircraft on the ground. Although no alerts were reported in the cockpit of flight SG041, the Boeing 737-8 was returned to the bay as a precaution. The incident caused a four-hour delay, but after inspection, the aircraft was cleared to resume service.

A tailpipe fire, often internal and limited to the engine’s exhaust area, can be caused by unburnt fuel igniting in the jet pipe. Such incidents are typically manageable if addressed promptly.

While both events ended safely, they come at a difficult time for the low-cost carrier.

SpiceJet posted a net loss of Rs 234 crore for the April–June quarter of FY26, a sharp reversal from a Rs 158 crore profit in the same period last year. Revenue dropped 34.4% year-on-year to Rs 1,120 crore, down from Rs 1,708 crore in Q1 FY25, according to its regulatory filing.

The airline attributed the downturn to a mix of factors, including costs related to grounded aircraft, efforts to restore operations, and geopolitical tensions affecting airspace and leisure travel demand.

With safety concerns resurfacing and financial stress mounting, SpiceJet faces renewed pressure to stabilize both its fleet and its finances in the coming months.