Air India Flight Returns to Delhi After Take-Off Due to Tyre Debris, Alternate Arrangements Made for Passengers

New Delhi, July 28, 2023: An Air India flight bound for Paris had to return to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport shortly after take-off when the Delhi Air Traffic Control (ATC) informed the cabin crew onboard about the presence of tyre debris on the runway.

The incident occurred at 2.18 pm, prompting the flight, AI143, to safely land back in Delhi. The airline officials have confirmed that necessary checks are being conducted on the aircraft, and alternate arrangements are being arranged to ensure the passengers reach their intended destinations.

The development comes amid Air India’s plans to expand its international operations. The airline announced that it will commence direct flights between Delhi and Dhaka from 15 September, augmenting the existing flights between Kolkata and Dhaka. With four additional weekly flights from Delhi to Dhaka, Air India aims to enhance connectivity, facilitating easy travel to and from 14 destinations in India and 14 destinations across North America, UK, Australia, the Middle East, and the Far East.

Furthermore, Tata Group-owned Air India is exploring the possibility of operating flights to more US cities, including Los Angeles. The airline is actively assessing various metrics for these expansion plans. Presently, Air India operates non-stop flights to five American cities, namely Washington, DC, New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Since being taken over by the Tata Group in January last year, Air India has been on a path of revival. In February this year, the airline made one of the largest aircraft orders by an airline, announcing the purchase of 470 narrow-body and wide-body planes from Airbus and Boeing, with an estimated total deal value of USD 80 billion.

The order includes 250 aircraft from Airbus, including 40 wide-body A350 planes, and 220 planes from Boeing, under separate agreements.