New Delhi, March 20: An Air India flight bound for Vancouver, Canada, had to return to Delhi nearly nine hours after takeoff due to a significant oversight. The aircraft used for the flight lacked the necessary approval from Canadian aviation regulators.
According to sources, Flight AI185 departed from Delhi at 12:18 PM on Thursday, fully loaded with passengers. The airline is permitted to operate this route only with a Boeing 777-300ER, but instead, a Boeing 777-200LR was utilized.
While the Boeing 777-300ER has a flight range of approximately 13,650 kilometers and can accommodate between 350 to 396 passengers, the Boeing 777-200LR has a longer range of about 15,840 kilometers but seats only 301 to 317 passengers.
The flight reached the airspace near Kunming, China, about four hours into the journey when the error was identified. The pilots promptly turned the aircraft back to Delhi.
After a lengthy nine-hour flight, the plane safely returned to Delhi, and all passengers were brought back to their original departure point.
An Air India spokesperson stated that Flight AI185 was returned due to an operational issue and that all safety protocols were adhered to. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew were disembarked without incident.
The spokesperson expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers. Ground staff in Delhi provided essential assistance, including hotel arrangements. Subsequently, arrangements were made to transport passengers to their intended destinations, and the flight to Vancouver departed the following morning.
It is worth noting that Air India has faced challenges in the past regarding flights operated without the necessary permissions. In November 2025, the airline operated eight flights using an Airbus A320neo that lacked a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC), resulting in a fine of 10 million rupees imposed by the GCAA.
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