Air India Flight Returns to Delhi After Deploying Wrong Aircraft for Canada Route

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NEW DELHI: An Air India flight bound for Vancouver was forced to return to the Indian capital on Sunday after flying for eight hours, reportedly due to the deployment of an aircraft lacking the specific technical certifications and regulatory clearances required for that particular international flight path.

Flight AI185, which departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport, was well into its journey when it was discovered that the Boeing 777 being used did not possess the necessary authorisation for the specific corridors it was set to traverse. Despite the aircraft being in the air for a significant duration, the crew was required to turn back to Delhi as it approached the boundary of Chinese territory.

According to airline sources, the issue involved an ‘equipment mismatch’ between the aircraft’s specific technical profile and the pre-approved documentation. "The aircraft returned to Delhi due to a technical issue related to overflight clearances," an Air India spokesperson said, adding that the airline is working to ‘streamline communication’ to prevent similar occurrences.

The incident resulted in passengers spending nearly 16 hours in the air only to land back at their point of origin. Upon arrival in Delhi, the airline provided hotel accommodation and refreshments for the affected travellers.
"It was frustrating to be almost halfway there and then see the flight map turn back," one passenger noted, describing the situation as ‘confused but calm.’ The flight has since been rescheduled with a replacement aircraft that meets all international aviation protocols.

This is not the first time an Indian carrier has faced such a challenge; in recent years, similar administrative and technical errors have led to international flights being diverted or forced to return after being denied entry into foreign airspace due to ‘improper documentation’ or equipment discrepancies. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is expected to review the error to ensure future compliance with international flight path requirements.

Photo Credits: AFP