An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for Hong Kong to Delhi, was forced back to its departure point just minutes after takeoff on Monday owing to a technical reason, the airline said.
The aircraft is being subject to rigorous technical check-ups.
Flight AI315 was safely returned to Hong Kong, and Air India assured that the passengers on board are being handled accordingly.
An airline spokesperson said that the flight was turned back as a precaution after the pilot detected a possible technical issue while in the air.
"The flight safely returned to Hong Kong and is being checked as a case of abundant precaution," the spokesperson said.
Efforts are now being made to organize alternative travel for the affected passengers to arrive in Delhi at the earliest opportunity.
"Alternate arrangements are being made to transport the passengers from the earliest opportunity to Delhi," the airline said.
Ground support is also being provided on a comprehensive basis by Air India to cause the least inconvenience to passengers after the sudden return.
This comes on the heels of a week of intense scrutiny of Air India's operations following the tragic crash of flight AI171. That Dreamliner, which took off from Ahmedabad and was en route to London, was brought down by disaster within minutes of flying, resulting in one of the most catastrophic aviation disasters in recent Indian history.
The plane allegedly crashed into the doctors' hostel building of BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad and killed 241 of the 242 individuals on board. The incident also resulted in several fatalities and injuries among those on the ground.
The sole survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, is in the hospital being treated for injuries.
In a release made on Sunday, Air India paid sincere thanks to the Central as well as the Gujarat government for their prompt and sympathetic response following the AI171 tragedy.
The airline also eulogized the unflinching devotion of medical experts at Ahmedabad's Civil and Rajasthan Hospitals and appreciated the ongoing support being given by Tata Group organizations to the families of the victims.
Air India has recently announced an interim compensation of ₹25 lakh per family that lost a relative in the AI171 accident. The same figure is being offered to the lone survivor. This monetary help is apart from the ₹1 crore assistance already promised by Tata Sons.
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