Overview
- The regulator, which on Thursday directed new safeguards, also said it had taken action against an Air India official connected to the lapse.
- Air India flight AI185 left Delhi on March 19 on a Boeing 777-200LR, stayed in the air for more than seven hours, and then returned when staff found the route was cleared only for a 777-300ER.
- DGCA sought a formal report from the airline after the turnback and now requires measures to stop a repeat of such approval errors.
- Air India said on March 20 that the flight returned due to an operational issue, reported a safe landing in Delhi, and offered no further comment on Thursday.
- International routes require approvals tied to specific aircraft variants, and using an unapproved model can force diversions and disrupt travel, with earlier reports pointing to a possible failure to update Canada-bound requirements.