An Air India flight bound for Vancouver had to return to Delhi after flying for 9 hours due to a lack of clearance from Canada’s aviation authority. The flight, AI185, departed from Delhi with a full load of passengers on a Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, which was not authorized for this route by Canadian authorities. Instead, Air India’s approval for the Vancouver route is limited to its Boeing 777-300ER planes.
The Boeing 777-300ER typically accommodates 350–396 passengers and has a range of about 13,650 km. In contrast, the 777-200LR, designed for longer distances up to 15,840 km, can carry fewer passengers, with a seating capacity of 301–317 individuals. The flight encountered the issue after entering Chinese airspace near Kunming, prompting the pilots to turn back to Delhi, where it landed safely after the extended 9-hour journey.
According to an Air India spokesperson, the return to Delhi was due to an operational issue, and all passengers and crew disembarked safely. The airline expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and provided necessary assistance to the passengers, including hotel accommodation. Following the incident, the flight to Vancouver was rescheduled, departing the next morning with the passengers onboard.
