An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for New Delhi had to make a U-turn back to Hong Kong on June 16 after the pilot suspected a technical problem mid-air, as reported by ANI. The flight, known as AI315, was scheduled to depart at 8:50 AM and reach its destination by 12:20 PM.

An Air India spokesperson mentioned that the flight returned to Hong Kong shortly after takeoff due to a technical issue. The aircraft landed safely and is currently undergoing checks as a precautionary measure. Alternative arrangements have been made to ensure passengers reach Delhi at the earliest.

Flight data from Flightradar24 shows that the flight was already over 3 hours late, and after being airborne for almost 1 hour and 19 minutes, it returned to Hong Kong International Airport, causing further anxiety among passengers.

This incident occurred just three days after another Air India flight, AIC129, heading to London, had to return to Mumbai due to escalating tensions in the Middle East and the closure of Iranian airspace. International carriers have been altering their routes to prioritize passenger safety amidst geopolitical developments involving Iran and Israel.

Similarly, a Chennai-bound British Airways Boeing Dreamliner had to return to London due to a technical snag mid-air. The flight, BA35, departed from London Heathrow Airport with a delay of over 35 minutes and returned after being airborne for nearly two hours. British Airways confirmed that the aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew disembarked normally.