Air India flight AI185 returns to Delhi after aircraft approval issue on Vancouver route

Air India flight AI185 from Delhi to Vancouver turned back and landed in Delhi after more than seven hours in the air. Sources said the aircraft used was not cleared for the Canada service. The plane returned on Thursday evening, after the issue was identified during the journey.

Representative image

The airline said the return happened due to an operational issue and followed set procedures. Air India confirmed the aircraft landed safely at the Delhi airport. The airline also said that passengers and crew got off the plane after landing.

Air India flight AI185 aircraft approval issue

Sources said the service should have used a Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft. The same sources said there was no approval to operate the route with a Boeing 777-200 LR. The flight was operated using Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft VT-AEI, according to the information shared.

Sources linked the problem to an apparent lapse in updating requirements for Canada flights. They said this led to the wrong aircraft being assigned to the Vancouver service. Approvals for international routes vary by country, and airlines must meet each destination’s conditions.

Air India flight AI185 route tracking and turnaround

Tracking data added details about where the flight turned around. Flightradar24.com showed the aircraft reversed course while it was in Chinese airspace. The plane had remained airborne for over seven hours before heading back towards Delhi and landing safely.

Air India described the event in a statement issued on Friday. "Air India flight AI185, operating from Delhi to Vancouver on 19 March, returned to Delhi due to an operational issue and in line with established standard operating procedures. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew had disembarked,\" the airline said.

Air India also gave an update on the onward journey. The airline said the flight left again for Vancouver with the passengers on Friday morning. No further details were provided by Air India about the approvals or the internal process that led to the aircraft being used.

With inputs from PTI