New Delhi: An Air India flight (AI315) bound for Delhi from Hong Kong was forced to turn back mid-air after the pilot suspected a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff. The flight, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, had just departed when the crew decided to return to Hong Kong as a precautionary measure.
In an official statement, Air India confirmed the incident, stating, “After taking off, a technical issue was suspected, hence the aircraft returned as a precautionary measure.” The aircraft is currently undergoing thorough inspections and necessary technical checks to identify and resolve the suspected glitch.
This incident adds to a series of recent aviation scares that have put a spotlight on aircraft safety. Since the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171—a Boeing 787-8 that went down shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing all 241 onboard and over 10 people on the ground—there has been an uptick in reports of technical snags and in-flight emergencies involving major international airlines.
In another separate incident on June 15, a British Airways flight bound for Chennai was forced to return to London Heathrow mid-air due to a suspected malfunction. The Dreamliner had taken off at 1:16 PM and was scheduled to land in Chennai at 3:30 AM but was turned back halfway, according to flight tracking data.
On the same day, Lufthansa flight LH 752 from Germany to Hyderabad was diverted back to its origin following a bomb threat. Hyderabad Airport authorities confirmed that an email threat was received at 6:01 PM while the flight was still outside Indian airspace. The Bomb Threat Assessment Committee was promptly activated and standard safety protocols were implemented. Authorities advised the airline to return or reroute to a safer destination.
These recurring incidents—ranging from mechanical snags to threats of sabotage—have heightened scrutiny of airline safety standards and emergency response protocols. In particular, the safety of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners has come under renewed focus, given their involvement in multiple recent events.
Aviation authorities are now facing growing pressure to increase inspections and audits to ensure passenger safety and maintain public trust in air travel.
