An Air India flight operating between Delhi and Vancouver had to return to its point of origin after spending more than seven hours in the air on March 19, as confirmed by the airline in an official statement. The aircraft, which had departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, was en route to Vancouver when it made a mid-air turnaround while flying over Chinese airspace. It later landed safely back in Delhi, with all passengers and crew disembarking without any reported issues.
According to Air India, the decision to bring the flight back was prompted by an unspecified operational concern and was carried out in accordance with established standard operating procedures. The airline did not provide further clarification regarding the exact nature of the issue.
On that day, flight AI 185 was operated using a Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft (registration VT-AEI), which differs from the Boeing 777-337 (ER) typically assigned to this route. Sources suggested that there may have been an administrative or technical concern related to the aircraft used, which could have contributed to the decision to abort the journey mid-flight. However, no official confirmation or additional details—such as the precise cause of the diversion or the number of passengers onboard—were disclosed.
In its official communication, Air India reiterated that flight AI185, scheduled from Delhi to Vancouver on March 19, returned to Delhi due to an operational issue and in adherence to standard safety protocols. The airline emphasized that the aircraft landed safely and that all passengers and crew exited the plane without incident.
The airline also expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers due to the unexpected disruption. Ground staff in Delhi were deployed to assist affected travelers, including arranging hotel accommodations and making necessary efforts to ensure that passengers could continue their journey as soon as possible.
Air India further confirmed that all impacted passengers were successfully accommodated and that the flight eventually departed for Vancouver the following morning with everyone on board.
Reaffirming its commitment, the airline stated that ensuring the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remains its foremost priority in all situations.
