Mumbai-Bound Air India Flight from San Francisco Suffers Technical Snag; Passengers Deplaned in Kolkata

An Air India flight from San Francisco to Mumbai was disrupted early Tuesday after a technical issue developed in one of its engines during a scheduled stopover at Kolkata airport.

Flight AI180 landed in Kolkata on time at 12:45 am, but a snag in the left engine delayed its onward journey. Around 5:20 am, an onboard announcement instructed all passengers to disembark. The captain cited flight safety as the reason behind the decision.

Flight Cancellation and Delays Amid Crew Time Limits

Earlier on Monday, Air India flight AI2493 from Mumbai to Ahmedabad was cancelled after delays linked to operational issues. According to news agency ANI, the Airbus A321-211 (VT-PPL) assigned to the route was initially delayed for unspecified reasons. During this time, the assigned crew exceeded their Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) — the regulatory maximum working hours to ensure crew readiness and flight safety — leading to the flight’s cancellation.

Air India Express Flight Returns to Delhi After Mid-Air Technical Glitch

In a separate incident, an Air India Express flight from Delhi to Ranchi was forced to return to the capital shortly after takeoff on Monday due to a suspected technical issue with the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft.

The flight had been scheduled to arrive at Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Airport at 6:20 pm. Following inspection and technical clearance, the aircraft later resumed regular operations, an airline spokesperson confirmed.

“One of our flights returned to Delhi after takeoff due to a suspected technical issue. Following inspections and necessary clearances, the aircraft resumed scheduled operations. We regret the inconvenience caused,” said an Air India Express spokesperson.

Hong Kong-Delhi Flight Turns Back Mid-Air

Earlier in the day, Air India flight AI315 from Hong Kong to Delhi, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was forced to return mid-air after the pilot reported a suspected technical problem. The flight had been expected to land in Delhi at 12:20 pm, according to FlightRadar24.

All passengers deboarded safely upon return, and the aircraft is currently undergoing a comprehensive safety inspection.