In a series of unsettling incidents involving international flights, several Boeing Dreamliners and other aircraft bound for India encountered technical issues, bomb threats, and in-flight discomfort for passengers within just two days.
On Monday, Air India Flight AI315, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Hong Kong to Delhi, was forced to return mid-air after the pilot reported a suspected technical malfunction. The aircraft, which had departed from Hong Kong, safely returned to its origin without declaring an emergency.
This follows an incident on Sunday, where a Saudia Airlines Airbus A330-343, carrying over 250 passengers including Hajj pilgrims, landed in Lucknow after smoke was seen coming from the left landing gear. The problem, believed to be a hydraulic system leak, occurred as the aircraft arrived from Jeddah, having departed at 10:45 PM and touching down at around 6:50 AM.
Adding to the list of concerns, two other Boeing Dreamliner flights bound for India also returned mid-air on Sunday. A British Airways 787-8 travelling from London to Chennai was rerouted back to Heathrow after a reported flap failure. Flight tracking data shows that the aircraft, initially scheduled to depart at 12:40 PM, took off at 1:16 PM and circled near Dover before making a return landing, approximately two hours later. No injuries were reported, and no emergency was declared.
Simultaneously, a Lufthansa 787-9 Dreamliner (Flight LH752) flying from Frankfurt to Hyderabad turned back following a bomb threat. As confirmed by airline and airport authorities, the aircraft was denied landing clearance in India as a precautionary measure, leading to its return to Germany while still outside Indian airspace.
Meanwhile, passengers on Air India Express Flight IX-196 from Dubai to Jaipur faced a grueling ordeal on June 13. Over 150 passengers endured five hours without air conditioning during a prolonged delay, without being offered water or assistance. The flight, originally scheduled for a 7:25 PM departure, finally took off at 12:44 AM and reached Jaipur at 2:44 AM. Videos of the situation have since gone viral, drawing criticism on social media.
These incidents raise renewed concerns about operational reliability and passenger safety, especially amid the ongoing scrutiny of Dreamliner aircraft and maintenance standards in the aviation industry.