Just hours after a British Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was forced to return to London mid-air due to a technical issue, another Dreamliner—this time operated by Air India—faced a similar scare over Hong Kong. The Delhi-bound Air India flight was forced to return to Hong Kong shortly after takeoff on Monday morning following a suspected technical snag flagged by the cockpit crew, official sources confirmed.
Flight AI 315, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, took off around 9:30 am IST from Hong Kong but turned back mid-air approximately 90 minutes into the journey, according to flight tracking data from Flightradar24. This incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of the aircraft type following the deadly crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad, which resulted in 270 fatalities, including five medical students on the ground.
After landing safely in Hong Kong, a comprehensive safety inspection was initiated on the aircraft. All passengers and crew disembarked safely without any injuries. “Flight AI315, operating from Hong Kong to Delhi on Monday, air-returned to Hong Kong shortly after takeoff due to a technical issue. The flight landed safely and is currently undergoing detailed checks as a matter of abundant precaution,” an Air India spokesperson said.
He further added that alternative travel arrangements were being made to fly the affected passengers to Delhi at the earliest. “We are providing all necessary on-ground assistance to minimise inconvenience caused by this unforeseen disruption,” he said.
British Airways Dreamliner also turns back
This was the second Dreamliner-related incident in less than 24 hours. On Sunday, a British Airways flight bound for Chennai was forced to turn back to London Heathrow due to another technical snag. Flight BA35, also a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was scheduled to depart London Heathrow at 12:40 pm but took off with a slight delay at 1:16 pm. However, it was forced to return to Heathrow after flying for nearly two hours, Flightradar24 data showed.
In a statement, British Airways confirmed that the return was a “standard precaution” after a suspected technical fault was identified. The flight landed safely and all passengers and crew deboarded without incident. The airline has not released further information about the number of passengers on board or the exact nature of the malfunction. The aircraft was originally slated to land in Chennai at 3:30 am local time.
Wider concerns around the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
The recent technical issues have intensified scrutiny of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner model, especially in India, where Air India and IndiGo are the only carriers currently operating the aircraft. As of 2025, Air India has 33 Boeing 787s in its fleet, making it the largest Dreamliner operator in the country.
The current wave of safety concerns follows a catastrophic crash of another Air India Dreamliner just days ago. Flight AI171, en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 270 people—241 on board and 29 on the ground. The aircraft reportedly crashed into the premises of a medical college in the Meghaninagar area and exploded into flames minutes after departing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The crash obliterated the aircraft and sparked a massive blaze. On board were 230 passengers, two pilots, and ten cabin crew members. Miraculously, a British national of Indian origin survived and is currently undergoing treatment.
DGCA orders full inspections
In response to the Ahmedabad disaster and the recent incidents, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has ordered comprehensive inspections of all Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners using General Electric’s GenX engines.
The mandatory safety checks include:
- Monitoring fuel parameters and system diagnostics
- Inspecting the cabin air compressor and associated components
- Testing the electronic engine control system
- Conducting operational tests of the fuel-driven actuator and oil systems
- Evaluating the aircraft’s hydraulic systems
- Reviewing take-off thrust and overall engine performance metrics
These measures aim to identify any systemic risks and prevent further incidents involving the aircraft model, as public concern over Dreamliner safety grows in the wake of multiple disruptions and a fatal crash.
Also Read: Doctors Body confirms death of 4 MBBS students in AI plane crash
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