Air India Flight AI315 makes precautionary return to Hong Kong after mid-air snag

Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner lands safely; Passengers rebooked as thorough safety checks get underway amid AI171 aftermath

New Delhi: Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as flight AI315 departed Hong Kong for Delhi on Monday but returned shortly after takeoff when the pilot detected a possible technical issue. The aircraft landed safely back in Hong Kong and is now undergoing thorough checks purely as a precaution.

All passengers disembarked without incident and are receiving full assistance on the ground. Air India is arranging alternative flights to Delhi at the earliest opportunity and has mobilized ground-handling teams to minimize any inconvenience caused by this unexpected disruption.

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This incident comes just days after the devastating crash of flight AI171, another Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which went down shortly after departing Ahmedabad for London. In that accident, 241 of the 242 people on board lost their lives when the aircraft struck a building on the medical college campus below.

The sole survivor of AI171, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, remains in hospital receiving treatment. In the wake of that tragedy, Air India has expressed deep gratitude to both the Central and Gujarat governments, as well as to the medical teams at Ahmedabad’s Civil and Rajasthan Hospitals. Tata Group companies continue to provide relief and support to the victim’s families.

Air India has announced an interim ex gratia payment of ₹25 lakh for each family who lost a loved one in the AI171 crash. The same amount will also be extended to the lone survivor. This interim payout is in addition to the ₹1 crore financial assistance already pledged by Tata Sons.