There was panic in the air inside a Jet Airways flight on Thursday when several passengers started bleeding from the nose and ears. Officials attributed this to a “cabin pressure problem”. The Boeing 737 aircraft carrying 166 Jet Airways passengers from Mumbai to Jaipur had to return to Mumbai.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has taken cognisance of the incident and asked aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to immediately file a report.

“During climb, the crew forgot to select bleed switch due to which cabin pressurisation could not be maintained. As a result, oxygen masks got deployed,” said the DGCA.

At 7.05 am, a passenger, Darshak Hathi, tweeted: “Panic situation due to technical fault in @jetairways 9W 0697 going from Mumbai to Jaipur. Flt return back to Mumbai after 45 mts. All passengers are safe including me.”

Panic situation due to technical fault in @jetairways 9W 0697 going from Mumbai to Jaipur. Flt return back to Mumbai after 45 mts. All passengers are safe including me. pic.twitter.com/lnOaFbcaps

— Darshak Hathi (@DarshakHathi) September 20, 2018

A DGCA official told PTI that 30-odd passengers complained of nose bleeding.

“Out of 166 passengers on board, 30 passengers are affected… some have nose bleeding, few have ear bleeding and some are complaining of headache,” he added.

A few passengers took to Twitter and posted photographs of blood-stained handkerchiefs and clothes.

Officials said all the affected passengers were attended to by doctors at the Mumbai airport.

The DGCA said the flight’s crew had been taken off duty.

Confirming this, Jet Airways said in a statement: “Jet Airways flight 9W 697 Mumbai to Jaipur or 20th September 2018, made an air turn back due to loss in cabin pressure. The B737 aircraft, with 166 guests and 5 crew landed normally in Mumbai. All guests were deplaned safely and taken to the terminal. First aid was administered to few guests who complained of ear pain, bleeding nose etc.”

The airline made alternative flight arrangements for the passengers.

Regretting the inconvenience caused, the company said: “The flight’s cockpit crew has been taken off scheduled duties pending investigation. The airline is making alternative arrangements for guests on this flight. Jet Airways regrets the inconvenience caused to its guests.”

The Ministry of Civil Aviation tweeted: “MoCA has taken cognizance of the incident in flight 9W 697 earlier today and has requested DGCA to file its report immediately on the issue. The crew is being derostered. Of the 166 people on board, 30 were affected and have been given treatment.”

MoCA has taken cognizance of the incident in flight 9W 697 earlier today and has requested DGCA to file its report immediately on the issue. The crew is being derostered. Of the 166 people on board, 30 were affected and have been given treatment.

— Ministry of Civil Aviation (@MoCA_GoI) September 20, 2018

Going by the preliminary information, an Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) official told PTI, it could be a case of negligence on part of the pilots, stressing that controlling cabin pressure control is part of check before operating a flight.

The official said DGCA would look into the incident first and then decide if the matter should be referred to the AAIB or not.

Serious incidents and accidents are referred to the AAIB for further investigation.