A scheduled Air India flight operating from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi to Kathmandu had to abort its journey mid-air due to an unexpected cockpit alert. The aircraft was on the verge of entering Nepalese airspace on Saturday afternoon when an onboard warning system signaled a technical malfunction. Confronted with the warning, the flight crew determined that continuing into foreign airspace was unfeasible and immediately resolved to divert the plane back toward the Indian capital.
Mid-Air Reversal Over Lucknow Skies
According to an official at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, the aircraft was flying over the city of Lucknow when the cockpit detected the technical issue. Prioritizing passenger safety over schedule commitments, the captain promptly contacted Delhi Air Traffic Control (ATC) to declare the technical situation. The crew requested permission for an air-turnback and a diverted landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Upon receiving clearance from air traffic controllers, the aircraft reversed its course directly over Lucknow airspace and headed back toward Delhi.
Safe Touchdown at Indira Gandhi International Airport
After navigating back across northern Indian airspace, the flight touched down safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Aviation staff confirmed that all passengers and flight crew members remained safe and unharmed throughout the diversion. Following standard safety evaluations and logistical procedures on the ground, the airline arranged for the journey to resume, and the flight departed once again for Kathmandu at around 6:30 pm the same evening.
Flight Timing and Aircraft Profile
The service was operated under flight number AI-219 using an Airbus A320-214 twin-engine passenger jet. The aircraft had departed from New Delhi at 2:42 pm on Saturday and was initially scheduled to land at Kathmandu by 4:30 pm. However, the flight profile was curtailed well before its destination runway could be approached. Aviation authorities have not yet specified the exact onboard component or warning sensor that triggered the mid-air alert.
