An Air India flight en route from Hong Kong to Delhi was forced to turn back mid-air after the pilot suspected a technical issue shortly after takeoff. Flight AI315, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, had departed from Hong Kong when the crew decided to return as a precautionary measure.
According to Air India, the decision was made purely for safety reasons after a possible technical snag was detected. “After taking off, a technical issue was suspected, hence the aircraft returned as a precautionary measure,” the airline said in a statement. The aircraft is currently undergoing necessary checks.
Ever since the fatal crash of Air India flight AI-171, several incidents involving mid-air technical glitches and emergency returns have come to the fore, raising concerns about aircraft safety. From precautionary turnbacks due to suspected malfunctions to bomb threats forcing diversions, the frequency of such occurrences has prompted heightened scrutiny of aviation protocols.
In a separate incident, a Chennai-bound British Airways Boeing Dreamliner was forced to return to London mid-air on Sunday, June 15, after encountering a technical snag. The aircraft had taken off from London Heathrow at 1:16 PM after a delay and was scheduled to land in Chennai at 3:30 AM. However, the flight was turned back mid-way due to the malfunction, as per flight tracking data.
Meanwhile, Lufthansa flight LH 752 from Germany to Hyderabad was also diverted back to its origin following a bomb threat. An official from Hyderabad Airport confirmed that the email threat was received at 6:01 PM on June 15, while the aircraft was still outside Indian airspace. A bomb threat assessment committee was immediately formed, and protocols were followed as per standard operating procedures. Citing safety concerns, the airline was advised to either return to its origin or divert to a suitable airport, ANI reported.
