Air India Canada-Delhi flight diverts to Kolkata after mid-air medical emergency

An Air India flight en route from Vancouver to Delhi, with a scheduled stop in Kolkata due to Pakistani airspace restrictions, was forced to return to the eastern city shortly after takeoff following a medical emergency onboard, according to media reports.

 Flight AI186, a Boeing 777-300ER (registration VT-ALT), had just departed from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) on the evening of June 26, 2025, when a passenger fell seriously ill. As per the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the aircraft safely returned to Kolkata around 7:00 pm.

The cockpit crew promptly alerted authorities and requested immediate medical support. An ambulance and doctor were dispatched to the aircraft, where the ill passenger was deboarded and taken for treatment.

Following the evacuation, the aircraft resumed operations. Flight AI186 took off again at around 8:30 pm, continuing the journey to Delhi without further incident. Air India confirmed the event and stated that the safety and well-being of passengers remains the airline's top priority.

The technical halt in Kolkata had been arranged due to ongoing Pakistani airspace restrictions, part of recent route adjustments by the airline.

Separately, Air India Flight AI130 from London Heathrow to Mumbai on June 23 saw seven individuals—five passengers and two cabin crew—report dizziness and nausea mid-air.

The Boeing 777 landed safely in Mumbai, where medical teams assessed the affected individuals. Two passengers and two crew members were taken for further evaluation and later discharged. Air India stated the incident is under investigation and has been reported to aviation regulators.

On June 22, another Air India flight from the UK to New Delhi was diverted to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following a bomb threat. The aircraft underwent extensive security checks. No explosives were found.

Air India issued an apology and arranged alternative flights for affected passengers, according to media reports.

In a bizarre incident on June 25, Flight AI2354 from Mumbai to Bangkok was delayed for over five hours after hay was discovered lodged under the left wing of the Airbus A320Neo.

The aircraft was scheduled to depart at 7:45 AM but eventually took off around 1 PM, Flightradar24 data showed.

Air India said the issue was immediately attended to, and the aircraft was cleared for departure following mandatory safety checks. However, due to regulatory duty time limits, a new flight crew had to be arranged, further delaying the flight.

The source of the hay remains unknown, and the ground service provider has been directed to investigate. The case has also been reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The hay incident and other recent irregularities come as the DGCA has tightened surveillance of Indian airlines following the deadly June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad.

According to media reports, the regulator is reviewing operations across several areas, including:

·         Flight operations

·         Aircraft maintenance and airworthiness

·         Ramp and ATC safety

·         CNS (Communication, Navigation & Surveillance) systems

·         Medical fitness of flight crew

Preliminary audits have flagged multiple safety and compliance issues, prompting calls for enhanced oversight across India's aviation ecosystem.