13-Hour Flight To Nowhere: Air India Blunder Grounds Vancouver Trip

Following the cancellation, passengers were provided hotel accommodation. On March 20, they were flown to Vancouver on the correct aircraft, a Boeing 777-300 ER.

Written By : Varun Bhasin | Updated at : 20 Mar 2026 10:06 PM (IST)

13-Hour Flight To Nowhere: Air India Blunder Grounds Vancouver Trip 13-Hour Flight To Nowhere: Air India Blunder Grounds Vancouver Trip

The required check, which should have been completed prior to departure, had been missed.

Source : PTI

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Key points generated by AI, verified by newsroom

Air India flight returned mid-air due to landing clearance error.
Incorrect aircraft type deployed for Delhi to Vancouver route.
Flight rerouted back to Delhi, passengers accommodated.

An Air India flight from Delhi to Vancouver was forced to return mid-air after an operational lapse left the aircraft without landing clearance in Canada. The incident caused inconvenience to hundreds of passengers and led to significant losses for the airline.

The flight AI 185, which departed on March 19, 2026, was operated using a Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft (VT-AEI), the last of its kind in Air India’s fleet. However, permission to land in Canada had been granted only for the Boeing 777-300 ER, not the 777-200 LR.

Error Identified Hours After Take-Off

The oversight was discovered nearly four hours into the journey, when ground staff realised that the aircraft in operation did not have the necessary landing clearance at Vancouver airport. The required check, which should have been completed prior to departure, had been missed.

Pilot Instructed To Return

Upon identifying the error, ground staff instructed the pilot to execute a U-turn. The aircraft turned back and, after a total flight duration of approximately 13 hours, landed safely back in Delhi.

Passengers Accommodated, Alternate Flight Arranged

Following the cancellation, passengers were provided hotel accommodation. On March 20, they were flown to Vancouver on the correct aircraft, a Boeing 777-300 ER.

Airline Response

The airline stated that the flight returned due to an operational reason and that the decision was taken in accordance with standard operating procedures. It also apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the Air India flight from Delhi to Vancouver have to turn back?

The flight returned mid-air because the aircraft operating, a Boeing 777-200 LR, did not have the necessary landing clearance in Canada. This was due to an operational lapse.

When was the landing clearance issue discovered?

The oversight was discovered nearly four hours into the journey by ground staff, who realized the aircraft was not cleared to land in Vancouver.

What happened to the passengers after the flight returned to Delhi?

Passengers were provided with hotel accommodation. An alternate flight to Vancouver was arranged for them on the following day using the correct aircraft.

What type of aircraft was operating the flight that had to return?

The flight AI 185 was operated using a Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft, which was the last of its kind in Air India's fleet.

About the author Varun Bhasin

Varun Bhasin is a Principal Correspondent with ABP News and has been working in journalism for the past nine years. He covers stories related to airlines, railways and road transport. Prior to this, he has worked with several media organisations. Varun has also been involved in producing documentary films focused on issues and developments in the news sector. He completed his education at MBM University, Jodhpur. He can be contacted via email at varunb@abpnetwork.com.