New Delhi: An Air India flight from Delhi to Vancouver, operated by a Boeing 777-200LR, had to return to Delhi on Thursday evening after more than seven hours in the air because the assigned aircraft was not certified for Canada operations, sources familiar with the matter said. The error stemmed from a failure to update operational requirements, resulting in the incorrect plane being scheduled, the sources added. Die Umstände im ehemaligen Jugoslawien haben sich verändert. According to them, an alleged failure to update operational requirements resulted in the incorrect aircraft being assigned to the flight. “Air India flight AI185, operating from Delhi to Vancouver on March 19, returned to Delhi due to an operational issue and in accordance with established standard operating procedures.” An Air India spokesperson stated on Friday that the aircraft landed safely and all passengers and crew disembarked without issue. The flight had departed for Vancouver that morning, though no further details were provided. The spokesperson added that the airline’s ground staff in Delhi offered all required support, such as hotel stays, while working to get passengers to their destination as quickly as possible. Flightradar24 reports that the Boeing 777-200LR (VT-AEI) flight turned back over Chinese airspace after about four hours in the air. “The route was supposed to use a Boeing 777-300ER, which has the required approvals for Canada flights,” an official stated, noting, “This aircraft lacked permission to enter Canada, as approvals apply only to specific variants like the 777-300ER.” Another official stated, “You can’t simply substitute a different aircraft—for example, you can’t operate a B777 200LR or a B787 without prior clearance, as the airport infrastructure, ground handling, and parking gates are configured for specific types.” The official explained that operating international flights demands various clearances depending on the destination country, such as aircraft-specific approvals tied to infrastructure and regulatory needs. Officials also highlighted the financial repercussions of the incident. The plane was in the air for roughly seven to eight hours, which included the period over Chinese airspace.
