Air India Archives - National Times

22 Dec

Air India Flight Returns to Delhi After Mid-Air Engine Oil Pressure Failure

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsPunjabAir India

National Times Bureau :- A Mumbai-bound Air India flight returned to Delhi airport shortly after take-off on Monday after the crew detected a significant drop in engine oil pressure on aircraft's right-hand engine, prompting an immediate safety response mid-air. Flight AI887, operated by a Boeing 777-337 ER aircraft, had departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport at 3.20 am when pilots observed abnormally low oil pressure on the right-hand engine, identified as Engine No 2. The oil pressure subsequently dropped to zero, triggering standard emergency procedures and a decision to return to base. The aircraft safely landed at Delhi airport with…

02 Dec

DGCA Probes Air India for Operating A320-neo Without Valid Safety Certificate

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaA320-neo, Air India, Airworthiness Review Certificate, DGCA

New Delhi, December 2, 2025: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has begun a formal investigation after Air India disclosed that one of its A320-neo aircraft operated eight flights despite an expired Airworthiness Review Certificate. The airline informed the regulator on November 26 that the plane flew several commercial routes on November 24 and 25 without the mandatory safety clearance.An ARC must be renewed every year after a detailed examination of maintenance records and physical inspections. Operating an aircraft without this approval is considered a serious violation of aviation safety rules. The DGCA has grounded the aircraft and taken the…

29 Nov

Air India, Indigo warn of delays in flight operations over A320 software upgrade, 200 aircrafts likely to be affected

nishuthapar10 CommentsIndiaAir India

National Times Bureau :- Flights operated by IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express are likely to face delays and cancellations because these airlines need to fix a possible problem in the flight control systems of their A320 aircraft, according to sources. About 200–250 planes in India will be affected. On Friday, Airbus announced that strong solar radiation could interfere with important flight control data in many A320 family planes, and fixing the issue will require software updates, which will temporarily disrupt operations. Around 6,000 A320 aircraft worldwide may need these upgrades. Since many A320 planes in India will undergo…

03 Nov

Air India Flight from San Francisco to Delhi Diverted to Mongolia After Mid-Air Technical Alert

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAir India, Boeing 777, Flight AI174, Mongolia, San Francisco to Delhi, Ulaanbaatar diversion

New Delhi, November 3, 2025 — An Air India flight from San Francisco to Delhi via Kolkata was diverted to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Sunday after the crew detected a suspected technical issue mid-air.The Boeing 777 aircraft, operating as flight AI174, made a precautionary landing at Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar, where it landed safely. All passengers and crew were reported safe, the airline confirmed.The flight had departed from San Francisco at 2:47 pm IST and was scheduled to arrive in Delhi at 9:59 pm on Monday. “AI174 of November 2, operating from San Francisco to Delhi via Kolkata, made…

06 Oct

Air India Dreamliner’s Safety Turbine Deploys Mid-Flight, DGCA Launches Probe

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAir India, Top news

National Times Bureau :- In an unusual mid-air incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has opened an investigation after the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) on an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner unexpectedly deployed during a routine international flight from Amritsar to Birmingham. According to officials, the aircraft—operating as flight AI 117—continued its journey without any safety risk and landed smoothly at Birmingham. No injuries or disruptions to onboard systems were reported. The RAT is a small fold-out turbine designed as an emergency backup. It automatically comes into action only if an aircraft loses engine-driven power, using the outside…

07 Sep

Air India CEO Stresses Transparency, Highlights Operational Gains and Expansion

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, IndiaAir India, Air India Express expansion, Air India performance, Air India transparency, Campbell Wilson

New Delhi, September 7, 2025: Air India Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson has reassured employees about the airline’s steady progress in performance, customer experience, and cultural transformation, while underlining its commitment to transparency and trust-building. In a letter to staff, Wilson acknowledged the challenges faced by all airlines, referencing the scrutiny that followed the AI171 crash in Ahmedabad earlier this year. He stressed the importance of providing “timely, clear, and accurate information” during crises, noting that Air India has deliberately chosen to be more open in reporting even minor incidents. While this approach has temporarily increased media coverage, Wilson pointed…

31 Aug

Air India Flight to Indore Makes Emergency Return to Delhi After Engine Fire Alert

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingAir India

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): An Indore-bound Air India flight was forced to make an emergency return to Delhi on Sunday morning after the cockpit crew received a warning of a possible fire in one of the aircraft’s engines shortly after takeoff. Flight AI2913, which departed from Delhi en route to Indore, was in the air for only a short time when a fire indication from the right engine appeared on the cockpit control panel, prompting the crew to take immediate safety measures. According to a statement from the airline, the pilots acted swiftly by shutting down the affected engine and…

13 Aug

Air India Announces Suspension of Non-Stop Services to Washington, D.C.

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, India, World NewsAir India

Canada ( Rajeev Sharma): Air India has announced that it will discontinue its direct flights between New Delhi and Washington, D.C., effective September 1, 2025, citing reduced aircraft availability and continued airspace restrictions as primary reasons. This decision will result in the termination of the only direct air link between the two capitals operated by an Indian carrier. The suspension is attributed to a planned shortage in the airline's long-haul fleet, with 26 Boeing 787-8 aircraft undergoing an extensive retrofit program. These upgrades, aimed at enhancing passenger comfort and experience, include modern seating, updated in-flight entertainment systems, and refreshed cabin…

12 Aug

Cockroach Scare on Air India’s San Francisco–Mumbai Flight Prompts Apology

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TravelAir India, cockroach scare, passenger complaint, San Francisco–Mumbai flight

San Francisco ( Bureau): Air India has issued a formal apology after two passengers reported spotting cockroaches during a recent flight from San Francisco to Mumbai. The unsettling discovery mid-flight prompted crew members to relocate the affected passengers to different seats. The aircraft underwent a thorough deep cleaning during a scheduled fuel stop in Kolkata before continuing its journey. According to an airline spokesperson, the incident has been taken seriously, and hygiene protocols have been reinforced to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

21 Jul

“We Want to Stand by the Truth”: Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Ahmedabad Plane Crash in Rajya Sabha

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingAhmedabad, Air India, Pariament

New Delhi (National Times): As the Monsoon Session of Parliament 2025 continues, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu addressed the Rajya Sabha on Monday regarding the tragic Ahmedabad Air India plane crash, which claimed the lives of over 260 people, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in the country’s history. Naidu assured the House that the government is committed to transparency and is awaiting the final investigation report to determine the exact cause of the crash. “We want to stand by the truth. We want to know the exact cause,” said the minister, stressing the government's…