Two Air India Boeing Aircraft Stranded in Kolkata Amid Rising Concerns Over Frequent Technical Snags
Two wide-bodied Boeing aircraft operated by Air India remain grounded at Kolkata Airport, caught in a web of technical complications that aviation insiders say are becoming increasingly frequent across the airline’s fleet.
One of the aircraft—a San Francisco–Mumbai flight—has been stranded since June 17, while the second, a Tokyo–Delhi service, was diverted and grounded on June 29 after encountering mid-flight issues.
The San Francisco–Mumbai flight (AI180), a Boeing 777-200LR, had made a routine refuelling stop at Kolkata. However, a technical snag was detected before departure, forcing the aircraft to remain grounded.
The flight had landed at 12:47 am on June 17, carrying 211 passengers and 17 crew members. Passengers allege they were kept inside the aircraft for nearly five hours without proper communication or clarity on the delay. They were eventually flown to Mumbai via an alternative aircraft later that day.
Airport officials say such prolonged grounding—now entering its third week—is highly unusual.
“Even when spare parts need to be flown in from the US or Europe, it rarely takes more than a week to fix an aircraft unless there’s an extraordinary issue,” said a senior official at Kolkata Airport.
Adding to the strain, a second Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating the Tokyo–Delhi route, was diverted to Kolkata on June 29 after the air conditioning system malfunctioned mid-flight.
The flight was carrying 243 passengers, who ended up stranded at the airport for over eight hours. The aircraft remains parked at stand 114, while the earlier Boeing 777-200 was shifted from stand 115 to stand 12.
Snags Becoming All Too Common
These incidents are not isolated. Over recent months, Air India has reported a string of technical snags, often involving its long-haul Boeing aircraft.
The trend has raised red flags within the aviation sector, especially in the wake of the June 12 crash of Air India’s Ahmedabad–London Dreamliner, which killed 241 passengers and crew seconds after takeoff.
In the aftermath of that tragedy, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered stringent checks on Air India’s entire fleet of 33 Dreamliner aircraft.
According to civil aviation ministry sources, 29 aircraft have now cleared inspection, while four are still undergoing maintenance. Each aircraft cleared must also complete additional one-time technical evaluations before being reinstated.
“These extended inspections are likely contributing to delays in repairs and aircraft turnaround,” said a civil aviation official.
The impact is visible across Air India’s international operations, with numerous flights cancelled or rescheduled, and many re-routed to avoid war zones and areas with restricted airspace, further complicating operations.
Public Confidence and Operational Strain
Air India passengers, already rattled by recent safety incidents, are growing wary.
Some who were onboard the June 17 San Francisco–Mumbai flight said they were relieved that the snag was detected before takeoff, especially given the crash less than a week prior.
The recurring issues not only pose operational challenges for Air India but also raise serious concerns about the safety protocols, aircraft quality, and maintenance practices associated with Boeing-manufactured planes.
Despite multiple incidents involving its aircraft globally and domestically, Boeing declined to issue any comment, stating that the June 12 crash investigation is ongoing.
“Air India flight crash is under investigation now, and so it is not possible to comment,” a Boeing spokesperson said tersely.
Air India, meanwhile, maintains that the airline acted in the interest of passengers.
“Flight AI180 made its scheduled technical stop at Kolkata on June 17. A maintenance task was advised before departure, requiring extended work.
A replacement aircraft was promptly arranged to carry passengers to Mumbai the same evening,” an Air India spokesperson said.
