The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating flight AI315 from Hong Kong to Delhi, returned to Hong Kong airport shortly after takeoff due to a suspected technical problem in the air. This was reported by Reuters, citing the airline “Air India“, reports News.bg.
“The plane returned to Hong Kong due to a technical problem. It landed safely and is undergoing checks as a precautionary measure“, the carrier's official statement reads.
The incident comes just a few days after a crash of the same type of “Air India“ plane in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad on a flight to London. The tragedy killed 241 of the 242 people were on board.
Flight AI315 took off from Hong Kong at around 12:20 p.m. and landed back at the international airport at around 1:15 p.m. local time. According to an airport authority spokesperson, the landing operation was normal and did not affect airport operations.
The aircraft used for the flight has been in service for seven years.
The incident is another blow to both “Air India“, which is seeking to renew its aging fleet, and “Boeing“, whose reputation remains under pressure due to a series of safety and manufacturing quality issues.