An Air India plane bound for San Francisco in the US returned to Delhi on Wednesday after a technical fault. Online flight trackers also showed that the flight returned to the capital after being in the air for more than eight hours.
“The aircraft landed safely and will undergo technical inspection in line with Air India’s safety standards,” the airline said in a statement.
The flight was carrying about 230 passengers on a Boeing 777-330 ER.
“Flight AI173 from Delhi to San Francisco on May 27 returned to Delhi due to a technical issue in accordance with stipulated procedures,” the airline said in a statement to the news agency.
Data from flight tracking website FlightRadar24 showed that the plane remained in the air for more than eight hours before it was diverted back to the national capital.
Air India also added that the flight has landed safely in Delhi and will undergo technical inspection.
The company added: “We regret the inconvenience caused to passengers and are making alternative arrangements to transport them to their destination as soon as possible. In the meantime, our ground teams are providing all necessary assistance to passengers, including refreshments, hotel accommodation or rescheduling flights as per their choice.”
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Last week, an Air India flight from Bengaluru to Delhi declared a complete emergency at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport due to a suspected engine fire.
The flight, AI 2802, touched down on runway 29R at Delhi airport and was towed away. There were 171 passengers on board the Airbus A320. The runway resumed operations at 10:18 p.m.
Air India said in a statement about the incident that during the plane’s final approach to Delhi, the cockpit crew received a fire warning from one of the engines, and the warning was later confirmed to be true.
“Air India is immediately launching a full investigation into the cause of the incident in coordination with relevant regulatory authorities. We are committed to sharing further verified information as soon as it becomes available. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority,” she added.
