Just days after a tragic crash involving a London-bound Air India flight, the airline is again in the spotlight—this time for a spate of technical snags that have forced multiple aircraft to return mid-air or endure prolonged delays.
On June 12, Air India’s London-bound flight AI-171 crash-landed in Ahmedabad, resulting in the deaths of over 260 people, including 241 people on board and those at the residential building of a medical college. The incident sent shockwaves across the aviation sector and raised serious concerns over fleet maintenance and emergency response preparedness.
In the days that followed, technical issues plagued Air India operations. On Sunday evening, June 15, flight AI819 from Delhi to Vadodara was reportedly forced to return to Indira Gandhi International Airport 30 minutes after takeoff. The Airbus A321 (VT-PPI) took off at 6:51 pm, but soon after, pilots reported that the landing gear did not retract. Following protocol, the crew alerted Delhi ATC and made a precautionary landing at 7:20 pm. The aircraft was cleared to fly again later that night after thorough checks.
Meanwhile, on June 16, a Delhi-bound Air India flight from Hong Kong had to turn back shortly after departure when the pilot suspected a technical malfunction. The flight landed safely back in Hong Kong, where the aircraft was sent for inspection, and passengers disembarked safely.
Adding to the growing list of recent disruptions was Air India Express flight IX-1226 from Guwahati to Kolkata. Scheduled to depart at 9:20 pm on June 14, the flight was delayed due to a recurring technical glitch. Passengers remained seated for hours post-midnight and were deboarded twice before finally taking off nearly 18 hours later on June 15 afternoon suggest reports.
(With inputs from multiple reports)
