Engine glitch grounds Air India San Francisco–Mumbai flight in Kolkata; passengers deplaned

San Francisco–Mumbai flight faces technical issue at scheduled halt

Passengers aboard Air India flight AI180, traveling from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata, experienced a delay and were asked to deplane during a scheduled layover at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport early Tuesday due to a critical engine malfunction.

The Dreamliner aircraft landed in Kolkata around 12:45 AM as scheduled. However, engineers detected a fault in the aircraft’s left engine shortly after touchdown. A full safety inspection was immediately initiated by ground technicians.

Safety measures prompt passenger deboarding

At approximately 5:20 AM—over four hours after landing—passengers were informed that they would need to deboard. The aircraft’s captain addressed the passengers directly, assuring them that the decision was made purely out of safety considerations.

Footage from the scene showed engineers examining the plane’s left engine as the aircraft remained grounded. Air India has yet to officially confirm the exact nature of the technical issue.

No injuries reported, alternate arrangements underway

No injuries were reported, and all passengers were safely accommodated at the airport. Air India began making alternate travel arrangements for the affected travelers soon after the incident.

This disruption comes just five days after the devastating crash of Air India flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London. The aircraft crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel complex shortly after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. The sole survivor was identified as British national Vishwas Kumar Ramesh.

In-flight technical glitch forces AI315 back to Hong Kong

On 16 June, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating Flight AI315 from Hong Kong to Delhi had to return to its departure airport shortly after takeoff due to a suspected technical malfunction. The pilot observed irregularities in the aircraft’s systems and made a precautionary decision to turn back for safety reasons. AI315 landed safely in Hong Kong, and all passengers disembarked without incident

Renewed scrutiny over Air India’s safety protocols

The back-to-back incidents have reignited public and expert concerns over Air India’s aircraft maintenance standards and technical reliability, particularly in its long-haul fleet. Aviation experts are now calling for a comprehensive review and audit of the airline’s operational safety practices.

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