An Air India flight from Bengaluru to London was diverted mid-air to Jeddah on March 23 after a suspected technical issue, the airline said.
“Air India flight AI133, operating from Bengaluru (BLR) to London Heathrow (LHR) on March 23, has made a precautionary diversion en route to Jeddah following a suspected technical issue. The aircraft landed safely at Jeddah Airport at 1958 hrs IST, and the safety of all passengers and crew has been confirmed.”
Air India also said in the statement that the aircraft is currently undergoing detailed technical checks as per safety protocols. The airline described the diversion as a precautionary measure taken out of “an abundance of caution.”
“Air India is coordinating closely with Jeddah Airport authorities and local agencies to ensure all necessary assistance is provided to passengers and cabin crew. Their safety and well-being remains our top priority,” the statement read.
It was not possible to confirm details of the number of passengers on board the plane.
Let us not forget that a few days ago, an Air India Boeing 777-200LR bound for Vancouver returned to Delhi after flying for more than seven hours, as the aircraft was not cleared to operate the route.
The issue is due to an apparent error in updating operational requirements for flights to Canada, which resulted in an incorrect aircraft being deployed.
Air India confirmed that flight AI185, which departed from Delhi on March 19, turned back due to an operational issue and followed standard procedures. The plane, registered VT-AEI, was over Chinese airspace when it reversed course, according to Flightradar24.
The airline said that the plane landed safely in Delhi and all passengers and crew disembarked without any incident.
Also late Sunday night, an Air Canada Express plane collided with a ground vehicle shortly after landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday, marking the latest in a series of incidents raising concerns about aviation safety. A pilot and his co-pilot died tragically in a collision.
According to the New York Police, the plane collided with a vehicle belonging to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Following the incident, LaGuardia was temporarily closed to inbound flights from across the United States and Canada.
