Air India San Francisco-Bound Flight Returns to Delhi After Technical Issue
NEW DELHI — An Air India flight bound for San Francisco returned to Delhi on Wednesday morning after a technical issue, the airline said.
Flight AI173, carrying about 230 passengers, was operating from Delhi to San Francisco when it returned to Delhi in accordance with established safety procedures. The aircraft was a Boeing 777-300 ER.
“The aircraft landed safely and will undergo technical inspection in line with Air India’s safety standards,” the airline said in a statement.
According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24.com, the aircraft remained airborne for more than eight hours. The plane reportedly began diverting back toward Delhi after more than three hours in the air while it was in Chinese airspace.
Air India apologized for the inconvenience and said it was working on alternative arrangements to get passengers to San Francisco as soon as possible.
“We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers and are making alternative arrangements to fly them to their destination as soon as possible,” the airline said.
“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.
The airline did not disclose the exact nature of the technical issue. The aircraft will undergo detailed technical checks.
The incident comes less than a week after an Air India flight from Bengaluru to Delhi was involved in an engine fire incident after landing at Delhi airport May 21.
Air India confirmed that Flight AI2802, operating from Bengaluru to Delhi, received a fire indication from one of its engines during final approach.
“During the aircraft’s final approach into Delhi, the cockpit crew received a fire indication from one of the engines. The indication was subsequently confirmed as true. The crew followed all standard operating procedures and landed the aircraft safely at Delhi airport. All passengers and crew are safe and have disembarked normally,” Air India said on X on May 21. (Source: IANS)
