Air India Flight Diverted Back to Hong Kong Amid Safety Concerns

An Air India flight destined for Delhi was unexpectedly redirected to Hong Kong as a safety measure when the pilot detected a potential technical malfunction, sources confirmed on Monday. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, departed Hong Kong and was expected to arrive in Delhi by 12.20 PM, as per Flight Radar 24.

All passengers disembarked safely, and the aircraft is currently undergoing a thorough safety evaluation after the pilot's precautionary decision to return to the origin due to suspected mechanical issues.

This event comes closely after the tragic crash of Air India's AI 171 Dreamliner on June 12 in Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives. In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has mandated increased safety inspections for Air India's Dreamliner fleet. The airline reports that nine of its 33 aircraft have passed inspections, with the remaining checks underway.

The aforementioned Air India crash involved a Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London, which went down shortly after takeoff, leaving a single survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh. The survivor is currently receiving treatment for minor injuries.

In light of the recent crash, a high-level meeting led by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan is scheduled for June 17, convening senior officials, including the Civil Aviation Secretary, DGCA representatives, and aviation security authorities, aiming to scrutinize the incident and reinforce safety measures across the aviation industry.

(With inputs from agencies.)