Air India Flight Returns to Delhi Due to Technical Issue
- An Air India Boeing 777-300ER operating flight AI173 to San Francisco was forced to return to New Delhi on Wednesday morning after a technical snag emerged mid-air, carrying around 230 passengers who had been flying for over three hours when the aircraft began diverting over Chinese airspace.
- The incident comes as Air India grapples with mounting operational pressures, having reduced international flights by around 27 per cent and planning 22 per cent reductions in domestic flights amid rising fuel costs and financial headwinds.
- Data from flight-tracking portal Flightradar24 indicated the aircraft began diverting roughly three hours into its journey, and although Air India did not specify the technical issue, the airline expressed regret for the inconvenience caused.
- Upon landing safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Air India stated that ground teams were "providing all necessary assistance to the passengers, including refreshments, hotel accommodation or rescheduling as opted by them," while the aircraft underwent mandatory technical inspection.
- The aircraft will undergo thorough technical inspection before returning to service, underscoring Air India's safety protocols as the airline manages around 4,400 weekly flights while navigating significant operational cost pressures.
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Air India flight AI173, which departed from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport for San Francisco, USA, returned mid-air on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) due to a technical fault. According to online flight trackers, the plane remained in the air for more than eight hours before returning to the national capital's airport. Air India issued an official statement regarding the incident. The airline said in a statement, "The plane has landed saf…
Air India Delhi-San Francisco flight returns after 8 hours in air due to technical issue
An Air India flight returned to Delhi after eight hours due to a technical issue. The airline is assisting the 230 passengers affected and making alternative arrangements for them.
Air India's San Francisco-bound flight, carrying 230 passengers onboard, makes U-turn to Delhi after 8 hours of flying, here's why
The aircraft, a Boeing 777-300 ER carrying 230 passengers, was on its way to San Francisco when it faced a technical snag and returned to Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, said a source close to the development.
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