Hong Kong: Air India Flight Returns Due to Technical Issue
The safety checks on Air India's Boeing 787 aircraft are part of a broader effort to address concerns about the airline's safety record, following the recent crash in Ahmedabad and the latest technical issue in Hong Kong, with the airline working to reassure passengers and complete the necessary maintenance actions.
An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane, bound for New Delhi, returned to Hong Kong International Airport as a precautionary measure after the pilot suspected a technical issue mid-air, landing safely at 1:15pm without declaring an onboard emergency.
The incident, which occurred on June 16, 2025, follows a recent crash of another Air India Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, India, which killed 241 people, with the total death toll climbing to 270. The specific nature of the technical issue is under investigation, and no injuries were reported in the latest incident. The aircraft, VT-NAC, had taken off from Hong Kong at 12:20pm and reached an altitude of 22,000 feet before returning to the airport.
The crash and this latest incident raise concerns about the safety of Air India and Boeing, which have faced several safety and production crises in the past. Air India has completed safety checks on nine of its 33 Boeing 787 aircraft and is in the process of completing the checks for the remaining 24 planes, following a directive from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after the Ahmedabad plane crash.
The airline has informed that flyers will be notified if there are any delays on their routes and will be offered refunds or complimentary rescheduling. The airline's fleet includes 26 Boeing 787-8 aircraft and 7 Boeing 787-9 planes. Boeing and Air India did not comment on the incident, which may cause potential delays on certain long-haul routes due to higher turnaround time.
The investigation into the technical issue is ongoing, and the safety of Air India's Boeing 787 fleet remains a concern. The airline's efforts to complete the safety checks on its remaining aircraft are underway, and passengers are advised to check with the airline for any updates on their flights.