An Air India flight bound for San Francisco in the United States returned to Delhi on Wednesday after developing a technical snag mid-air, forcing the aircraft to turn back after being airborne for more than eight hours.
Flight returned back mid-air?
Flight AI173, operated by a Boeing 777-330 ER aircraft, was carrying around 230 passengers when the issue was detected. Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 showed that the aircraft remained airborne for over eight hours before it was diverted back to the national capital.
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According to a report by Hindustan Times, in a statement issued to the news agency, Air India confirmed the incident, saying, “Flight AI173 from Delhi to San Francisco on May 27 has returned to Delhi due to a technical issue in accordance with the laid down procedures.”
The airline further stated, “The aircraft landed safely and will undergo technical inspection in line with Air India’s safety standards.”
Air India releases statement
Following the return of the aircraft, Air India stated that efforts were underway to assist affected passengers and arrange alternative travel plans.
“We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers and are making alternative arrangements to fly them to their destination as soon as possible. In the meantime, our ground teams are providing all necessary assistance to the passengers, including refreshments, hotel accommodation or rescheduling as opted by them,” the airline added further.
The latest incident comes just days after another Air India flight, travelling from Bengaluru to Delhi, declared a full emergency at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport due to a suspected engine fire.
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The earlier incident involved flight AI 2802, an Airbus A320 aircraft carrying 171 passengers. The aircraft landed on runway 29R at Delhi airport and was later towed away. Airport operations on the runway resumed at 10:18 pm.
In a statement regarding that incident, Air India said the cockpit crew received a fire warning from one of the engines during the aircraft’s final approach to Delhi, and the alert was later confirmed to be genuine.
“Air India is immediately initiating a full investigation into the cause of the incident in coordination with the relevant regulatory authorities. We are committed to sharing further verified information as soon as it becomes available. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority,” the airline had stated.
