Another Boeing Dreamliner Scare For Air India, Delhi-bound Flight From Hong Kong Returns Mid-Air Due To Suspected Technical Glitch
New Delhi: An Air India flight bound for Delhi had to turn back shortly after takeoff from Hong Kong on Monday due to a suspected technical malfunction. The flight, AI315, is reportedly, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
According to reports, the aircraft departed from Hong Kong as per schedule. However, shortly after becoming airborne, the pilot reportedly noticed signs of a potential system glitch and made the decision to return to Hong Kong as a precautionary measure. The nature of the malfunction has not yet been officially disclosed.
Aircraft Landed Back At Hong Kong International Airport
The aircraft landed safely back at Hong Kong International Airport and all passengers on board were reported to be safe, according to a Financial Times report. There were no injuries or medical issues during the unscheduled return. Air India has not issued a detailed statement yet but confirmed that arrangements are being made for the affected passengers.
Technical teams immediately began inspecting the aircraft upon landing to identify the root cause of the issue. The airline however assured that safety remains its top priority and that engineers are conducting a thorough check before the plane is cleared to fly again.
Lufthansa Flight Returns Following Bomb Threat
A Lufthansa flight en route from Frankfurt to Hyderabad was forced to turn back mid-air on Monday after a bomb threat was reported, prompting Indian authorities to deny the aircraft landing permission at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.
The flight, LH752, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, had departed from Frankfurt and was scheduled to arrive in Hyderabad in the early hours of the day. However, while the aircraft was still in international airspace, Indian authorities were alerted to a potential bomb threat. In response, as a precautionary measure, they instructed the airline not to proceed with its scheduled landing.
Lufthansa, in an official statement to news agency ANI, confirmed the diversion. “We did not receive a permit to land in Hyderabad, and that’s why the aircraft took a U-turn and returned,” the airline stated. While specific details about the bomb threat were not disclosed, sources said that standard safety protocols were swiftly activated following the alert.
Officials at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport also confirmed the incident, noting that the aircraft was diverted before entering Indian airspace to minimize any risk to passengers, crew, and airport operations. The airport authorities did not provide further details on the number of passengers onboard or the nature of the threat. The flight eventually returned safely to Frankfurt.
news