The launch of Scandinavian airline SAS’s long-awaited route between Copenhagen and Mumbai suffered an embarrassing setback when the inaugural flight was forced to turn around halfway through its journey because the airline lacked final regulatory approval to operate the service.
Flight SK969 (an Airbus A330-300 registered LN-RKM) departed Copenhagen on 2 June as the first SAS service to India in 17 years. However, while flying over Azerbaijan, the aircraft reversed course and returned to Denmark after the required government authorisation had not been completed.
SAS said it had been in ongoing discussions with the relevant authorities and believed the remaining formal approval would be granted while the flight was en route. When that approval failed to materialise, the airline concluded that the flight could not continue to India.
The incident left passengers facing an unexpected return to Copenhagen after spending approximately 12 hours in the air. One passenger described the situation as “absolutely horrible,” criticising the decision to dispatch the flight before landing permission had been secured.
According to SAS, passengers remained calm throughout the ordeal and were provided with assistance and rebooked onto alternative flights. The airline stated that it expects the new route to begin operating within the next few days once the outstanding authorisation has been formally issued.
The episode is a rare operational and regulatory mishap for SAS and overshadowed what was intended to be a high-profile return to the Indian market. The Copenhagen–Mumbai route is part of the carrier’s strategy to expand its long-haul network and strengthen links between Scandinavia and Asia.
