NEW DELHI — An Air India flight bound for Vancouver was forced to return to Delhi after nearly eight hours in the air due to an operational error involving the wrong aircraft.
Flight AI185 departed Delhi at 11:34 a.m. and had already spent about four hours in the air, reaching Chinese airspace near Kunming, when the airline realized the aircraft did not have the required regulatory approval to operate flights into Canada.
The aircraft used for the journey was a Boeing 777-200LR, while Air India currently holds clearance to operate only its Boeing 777-300ER fleet on Canadian routes. Due to this mismatch, the plane was recalled mid-flight and returned to Delhi after a total flying time of nearly eight hours.
All passengers and crew landed safely, and no injuries were reported. The airline described the incident as an “operational issue” and stated that the decision to turn back was taken in accordance with standard procedures.
Air India arranged assistance for affected passengers, including hotel accommodations, and ensured they were rebooked on another flight, which departed the following day.
The incident is expected to have significant financial implications for the airline, as long-haul aircraft like the Boeing 777 consume approximately eight to nine tonnes of fuel per hour, making the nearly eight-hour journey costly.
The episode highlights the importance of strict regulatory compliance in international aviation, where approvals may depend not only on airlines but also on specific aircraft types and configurations.