Air India Delhi–Vancouver Flight Returns After 7 Hours Due to Operational Issue

An Air India flight, AI185, from Delhi to Vancouver returned to the national capital after over seven hours airborne due to an unspecified operational issue. The Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft turned back over Chinese airspace and landed safely in Delhi. Air India confirmed the incident, stating passengers and crew disembarked safely. Passengers were subsequently flown to Vancouver the following morning. A source hinted at a possible administrative issue with the deployed aircraft.

An Air India flight, AI185, operating from Delhi to Vancouver on March 19, was compelled to return to Delhi after being airborne for more than seven hours, citing an operational issue. The Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft, registered as VT-AEI, altered its course while over Chinese airspace and successfully landed back at Delhi airport on Thursday evening. Air India released a statement on Friday confirming the incident, noting the aircraft landed safely and all passengers and crew disembarked in line with established standard operating procedures. The airline, however, did not provide specific details regarding the nature of the 'operational issue.' Information available from flight tracking website Flightradar24.com corroborated the flight's trajectory. A source close to the matter suggested that the operational issue might have been an administrative problem concerning the aircraft deployed for the route, leading to the decision to return. Further specifics, such as the exact reason for the turn-back or the precise number of passengers on board, were not immediately ascertained. Despite the significant delay, Air India arranged for the affected passengers to depart for Vancouver the following morning, Friday.