On March 19, 2026, Air India flight AI185 from Delhi to Vancouver was forced to return to Indira Gandhi International Airport after being in the air for more than seven hours. The return was caused by a major operational lapse regarding the specific aircraft used for the long-haul route. All passengers and crew members landed safely in Delhi and were provided with necessary support by the airline staff.
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Why did the flight return to Delhi?
The operational issue was linked to the specific model of the aircraft deployed for this international route. While Air India has the necessary regulatory approval to fly its Boeing 777-300 Extended Range (ER) fleet into Canada, the aircraft used for this specific flight was a Boeing 777-200 Long Range (LR) model with registration VT-AEI. This version did not have the required regulatory clearance to enter Canadian airspace, making it impossible to complete the journey to Vancouver safely and legally.
What happened to the passengers and the flight?
- The flight departed Delhi at 11:34 AM and landed back at the same airport at 7:19 PM on March 19.
- Passengers spent over seven hours on a flight to nowhere before landing back at IGI Airport.
- Air India provided hotel accommodation and other assistance to all affected travelers upon their return.
- A rescheduled flight departed for Vancouver on the morning of March 20, 2026, with all passengers on board.
- The airline management is reportedly taking serious note of this administrative error and action is being contemplated for those responsible for the lapse.
An Air India spokesperson confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and emphasized that the airline remains committed to passenger safety. The airline expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by this administrative issue related to the aircraft deployment.
