US-Bound Air India Dreamliner Delayed In Vienna After Technical Issue During Fuel Stop | India News
New Delhi: An Air India flight from Delhi to Washington, D.C. was halted in Vienna and later cancelled after a technical issue was discovered during a scheduled fuel stop, the airline confirmed on Thursday.
Flight AI 103 departed from Delhi at 12:45 AM on Wednesday and was scheduled to land in Washington by 8:45 PM on Thursday. However, it was grounded in Vienna following routine maintenance checks during refuelling.
“During routine aircraft checks, an extended maintenance task was identified, which required rectification before the next flight and, thus, additional time for completion,” said an Air India spokesperson.
As a result, the Vienna–Washington leg of the journey was cancelled, and all passengers were disembarked and rebooked on alternative flights to Delhi. Some passengers were also offered full refunds, depending on their preferences.
“Due to this, the Vienna to Washington, DC leg was cancelled, and passengers were disembarked… Consequently, flight AI104 from Washington, DC to Delhi via Vienna was also cancelled, and the affected passengers have been rebooked on alternative flights to Delhi or offered full refunds based on their preferences,” the spokesperson added.
The incident adds to a string of recent challenges for the airline. On June 14, a Vienna-bound Air India flight dropped 900 feet shortly after taking off from Delhi. Both pilots involved in that incident have been taken off duty pending an investigation. Just two days before that, another Air India flight, this one bound for London, crashed seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad airport.
The airline has cautioned passengers about possible delays due to ongoing inspections, stating that “some of these checks could lead to higher turnaround time and potential delays on certain long-haul routes.” It assured that customers will be informed in advance of any disruptions and advised them to check their flight status before arriving at the airport.
