An Air India flight bound for San Francisco returned to Delhi on Wednesday morning after a technical issue was detected mid-air, the airline confirmed. The flight, AI173, carrying around 230 passengers, had remained airborne for more than eight hours before safely landing back in the national capital.
According to Air India, the Boeing 777-300 ER operating on the Delhi–San Francisco route returned to Delhi as a precautionary measure in line with established safety protocols.
“The aircraft landed safely and will undergo technical inspection in line with Air India’s safety standards,” the airline said in an official statement.
Flight-tracking website Flightradar24.com showed that the aircraft had already flown for more than three hours and entered Chinese airspace before it reportedly turned around and headed back towards Delhi.
Air India expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to passengers and said efforts were being made to ensure alternative travel arrangements at the earliest.
“We regret the inconvenience caused to passengers and are making alternative arrangements to fly them to their destination as soon as possible,” the airline said.
The carrier added that its ground teams were extending all necessary support to passengers, including refreshments, hotel accommodation, and rescheduling options based on individual preferences.
The airline, however, did not disclose the exact nature of the technical issue. Officials said the aircraft would now undergo detailed technical checks before being cleared for operations again.
Meanwhile, the incident comes days after another Air India flight operating from Bengaluru to Delhi reported an engine fire indication during landing at Delhi airport on May 21.
Air India had then confirmed that the cockpit crew of Flight AI2802 received a fire warning from one of the aircraft’s engines during final approach into Delhi. The warning was later confirmed as genuine, following which the crew carried out all standard operating procedures and landed the aircraft safely.
“All passengers and crew are safe and disembarked normally,” Air India had stated on X following the incident.
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