A Saudi airliner was diverted to Karachi after India’s Mumbai airport denied it permission to make a medical emergency landing.

The aircraft turned back after reaching closer to Mumbai and then flew over the Arabian Sea before landing in Karachi.

Flight SV 805 of Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, took off from Bangladesh’s Dhaka airport Tuesday night for Riyadh. The aircraft was in the Indian airspace when it reported a medical emergency involving a passenger identified as Abu Tahir, 44.

The pilot changed the course and headed towards Mumbai airport. However, the air traffic controller told it to divert again and land in Karachi.

The aircraft then almost turned back and flew over the Arabian Sea to arrive in Pakistan.

It landed at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport at 7:28 on Wednesday.

A medical team from Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority attended to the passenger and offered him medical aid.

The flight eventually left for Riyad.

It is not clear immediately why Indian authorities denied permission to the Saudi Airliner to land at Mumbai airport.

However, reports claimed that the Indian air traffic controllers (ATC) refused landing permission after learning that the passenger was a Bangladeshi Muslim.

A report said that the ATC had sought details about the passenger experiencing a medical condition and when they learnt that it was a Bangladeshi national who could possibly need hospitalization they told the aircraft to divert to Pakistan.