An Air India Express flight from Delhi to Ranchi encountered a serious issue shortly after takeoff on Monday evening, prompting an immediate return to the capital. The airline reported that the Boeing 737 MAX 8, which was scheduled to arrive at Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Airport at 6:20 PM, detected a suspected technical irregularity soon after departing.
In light of the potential issue, the flight crew opted to divert back to Indira Gandhi International Airport as a precautionary measure. Upon landing, the aircraft underwent a comprehensive inspection. Following the thorough checks, the aircraft was cleared for operations and subsequently resumed its scheduled flights without further delay. An Air India Express spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating, “One of our flights returned to Delhi after takeoff due to a suspected technical issue. Post inspections and clearance, the aircraft continued scheduled operations.”
Earlier the same day, another incident involved an Air India flight, AI315, which was traveling from Hong Kong to New Delhi. This Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner also turned back due to technical concerns shortly after its departure. The aircraft had taken off at 12:20 PM, reaching an altitude of 22,000 feet before conducting a safe descent and landing back at Hong Kong International Airport around 1:15 PM local time.
These two back-to-back occurrences come on the heels of a tragic incident from the previous week, where another Air India flight—a Boeing aircraft—crashed just after takeoff from Ahmedabad while bound for London. This disaster resulted in the loss of 241 out of the 242 individuals aboard, raising alarms about Air India’s operational safety.
These recent events pose additional challenges for Air India, which is currently engaged in a fleet modernization initiative, and place further scrutiny on Boeing regarding safety and reliability issues. The airline is under pressure to address these problems as it strives to enhance its reputation and operational standards amid growing public concern.
