Air India flight returns to Hong Kong after detecting technical issue mid-air

Dubai: An Air India flight bound for Delhi was forced to make an unexpected return to Hong Kong on Monday after crew members identified a potential technical problem during the journey. Flight AI315, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, departed from Hong Kong International Airport at 12.16 pm and landed just over an hour later, according to Flightradar24 data.

The flight crew's vigilance paid off when pilots detected what appeared to be a technical anomaly requiring immediate attention. Following standard aviation safety procedures, the decision was made to return to the departure airport rather than continue the journey to Delhi. The aircraft completed a safe landing in Hong Kong just over an hour after takeoff, with all passengers and crew reported to be in good condition.

According to the reports, ground engineering teams have since begun comprehensive inspections of the Dreamliner to identify and resolve the technical concern. The specific nature of the issue remains under investigation, with Air India working to minimise passenger inconvenience while ensuring complete safety compliance.

In a separate incident on Sunday, Lufthansa flight LH752 from Frankfurt to Hyderabad was compelled to make a mid-flight reversal following a bomb threat received at the destination airport. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner had departed Frankfurt Airport around 2.15 pm and was approximately two hours into its journey when the security alert was raised.

Airport authorities at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport received the threatening communication at 6.01 pm on Sunday, prompting immediate activation of emergency protocols. A specialised bomb threat assessment committee was convened to evaluate the situation according to established security procedures.

Acting in the interest of passenger safety, aviation authorities advised the airline to redirect the aircraft to either its origin airport or the nearest suitable alternative. The flight had not yet entered Indian airspace when the decision was made to return to Frankfurt, where it landed safely later that evening.

The incident left passengers understandably concerned and confused about the sudden change in plans. Lufthansa responded by arranging overnight accommodation for affected travelers and worked to reschedule the flight for Monday. The original arrival time in Hyderabad had been set for 6:00 am Monday morning.

Both incidents involved Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, a model that has faced increased scrutiny in the Indian aviation market. This attention intensified following a tragic incident on June 12 near Ahmedabad airport, where an aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in significant casualties among passengers, crew, and people on the ground. Both airlines are working with relevant authorities to complete investigations and resume operations.