Air India Flight Returns to Hong Kong Mid-Air Due to Technical Snag; Probe Underway Amid Ongoing Crisis
An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as flight AI315, returned to Hong Kong International Airport on Monday shortly after takeoff to New Delhi, following a technical issue detected mid-flight. The airline confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and that all passengers are safe and being assisted. Technical checks are currently underway to determine the cause of the issue.
“The flight returned as a precautionary measure after the pilot observed a possible technical snag. The aircraft landed safely at Hong Kong and is undergoing thorough inspection,” an Air India spokesperson said. Air India added that alternative arrangements are being made to transport the stranded passengers to Delhi at the earliest. On-ground teams are also providing all necessary support to ensure minimal inconvenience.
This latest incident comes just days after the devastating crash of Air India flight AI171, also a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which claimed the lives of 241 out of 242 people on board. That flight, en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed into a doctors’ hostel at BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad, shortly after takeoff. The tragedy also resulted in casualties on the ground. The only survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, remains under intensive medical care, with doctors calling his recovery “miraculous.”
In response to the AI171 tragedy, Air India issued a statement on Sunday expressing profound gratitude to the Central and Gujarat governments for their immediate support. The airline also acknowledged the relentless efforts of doctors and staff at Civil and Rajasthan Hospitals, and praised Tata Group companies for providing sustained aid to victims’ families.
Air India has announced interim compensation of ₹25 lakh for the family of each deceased passenger, and the same amount for the lone survivor. This is in addition to the ₹1 crore relief package pledged earlier by Tata Sons.
As investigations continue into both incidents, aviation safety experts are calling for enhanced scrutiny of Dreamliner aircraft and internal maintenance protocols.
