Air India flight headed to Vancouver had to turn back to Delhi after spending nearly nine hours in the air, once the airline discovered that the aircraft assigned for the journey was not authorised to operate in Canada.
The flight, AI 185, departed from Delhi on March 19 carrying a full passenger load. To steer clear of the ongoing tensions in the Gulf region, it was flying on a longer, eastward route. However, the airline had deployed a Boeing 777-200LR for the trip, despite having regulatory clearance to operate only the Boeing 777-300ER on Canadian routes.
The mistake was identified when the aircraft had already crossed into Chinese airspace, close to Kunming, several hours into the journey. By that time, it had been airborne for over four hours. Following the discovery, the crew was instructed to return to Delhi. Flight tracking data indicates that the aircraft, which took off at 11:34 am, landed back in the national capital at 7:19 pm.
Aviation approvals vary across countries and may depend on specific aircraft types rather than just the airline. In this instance, Canadian authorities have permitted Air India to operate only the Boeing 777-300ER, not the 777-200LR that was mistakenly used.
The incident has triggered internal review within the airline. Sources suggest that the matter is being examined seriously, with accountability measures likely to follow. Officials acknowledged the error, stating that corrective steps are being taken to ensure such lapses are not repeated.
The financial impact of the diversion is expected to be considerable. A Boeing 777 typically burns around eight to nine tonnes of fuel per hour, making the unscheduled return an expensive error, especially at a time when fuel prices remain high and the airline is focused on improving its financial health.
Air India, however, termed the situation as an operational issue. In a statement, the airline confirmed that the flight returned to Delhi as per standard procedures and landed safely, with all passengers and crew disembarking without incident.
The airline also expressed regret for the inconvenience caused, adding that passengers were provided necessary support, including hotel accommodation. Efforts were made to arrange an alternative flight, which departed for Vancouver the following day.
The episode has surprised aviation experts, particularly because such a turnaround was not due to external factors like geopolitical tensions, but rather what insiders describe as a rare human error on an otherwise routine long-haul route.
