Air India Flight from Vienna to Delhi Diverted to Dubai Over Technical Issues

Air India, owned by Tata Group, reported a technical issue on its Vienna to Delhi flight on October 9. This led to the flight being diverted to Dubai. The aircraft landed safely in Dubai for checks before continuing its journey. It departed Dubai at 08:45 IST and reached Delhi at 12:19 IST. The airline did not specify the technical problem that caused the diversion.

Representative image

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) disclosed that the Boeing 787 aircraft faced multiple system failures. These included issues with the Autopilots, Instrument Landing System (ILS), and flight directors. The flight control system also degraded, losing autoland capability. FIP has repeatedly urged checks on all B-787s in India since June 16, 2025, focusing on electrical systems.

Technical Challenges and Safety Concerns

On October 5, a Boeing 787 operating AI-117 experienced an unexpected deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) while approaching Birmingham. The RAT provides emergency power using wind speed during dual engine or total electronic failures. This incident raised concerns about the aircraft's reliability and safety.

The FIP highlighted that during the October 9 incident, pilots couldn't engage autopilots due to electrical malfunctions. They were forced to manually fly the aircraft at night, leading to its diversion to Dubai. Additionally, flight directors were unavailable due to degraded flight control systems.

Call for Action and Previous Incidents

The FIP has called for grounding all B787s and requested a special audit by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). They demand thorough investigations into the electrical systems of Boeing 787s in India. This follows an earlier incident involving a Boeing 787 from Amritsar to Birmingham where emergency turbine power was deployed during landing.

These recent events follow a tragic accident on June 12 involving Air India's Ahmedabad-London Gatwick flight. A Boeing 787-8 crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, resulting in 260 fatalities. This has heightened scrutiny over Air India's fleet safety.

The FIP's letter emphasises the need for immediate action to ensure passenger safety and prevent further incidents. They stress that addressing these technical issues is crucial for maintaining trust in Air India's operations and ensuring safe air travel.

With inputs from PTI