An Air India flight from Delhi to Washington, DC was grounded in Vienna on Thursday following a routine inspection during a scheduled fuel stop that flagged a maintenance issue requiring extended attention. Arriving in Vienna for a scheduled refuelling stop, Flight AI103 had left Delhi on July 2. The airline cancelled the remaining portion of the trip to Washington after routine technical checks during this stopover revealed an issue that required further maintenance.
Passengers were consequently disembarked in Vienna. Those with valid Schengen visas or those who could enter the country without a visa were given hotel accommodations until the next flight. "Arrangements are being made in coordination with Austrian immigration and security authorities for passengers who do not have entry permission," an Air India spokesperson stated.
The return service was also impacted by the interruption. Additionally, flight AI104, which was supposed to fly via Vienna from Washington to Delhi, was cancelled. According to Air India, travellers on both legs of the trip received complete refunds or were rescheduled on different flights. The Boeing Dreamliner, the model in question, was already the subject of international scrutiny after the recent crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad, which claimed the lives of over 270 people.
Following that tragedy, the airline owned by the Tata Group and its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, have increased safety measures. Together, they run over 1,100 flights every day and transport over 1.5 lakh passengers. According to the airline, in order to improve operational stability and lessen last-minute disruptions, it has temporarily reduced some services and reinforced pre-flight inspection procedures.
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Following a series of mid-air technical problems on multiple routes, Air India is currently under more scrutiny. A thorough audit of all Dreamliners with GenX engines in the fleet has been started by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Important systems like engine control units, cabin air compressors, fuel monitoring parameters, and other vital parts are examined as part of the safety review.
The airline has warned travellers that these continuous inspections may cause delays, particularly on lengthy flights. "Longer turnaround times could be the result of some of these inspections. We encourage customers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport, and we will notify passengers in advance', Air India stated.
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