New Delhi: India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has directed Air India to implement corrective measures after the airline deployed an incorrect aircraft for a Vancouver-bound flight last week.
According to a senior official, the regulator has also taken action against an airline official in connection with the lapse. The incident involved a Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft that departed from Delhi on March 19 but was forced to return mid-air after it was found not to be approved for operations on that route. The Vancouver sector is authorised only for the Boeing 777-300 ER.
The aircraft remained airborne for over seven hours before returning safely to Delhi, with all passengers and crew disembarking without incident. The DGCA had subsequently sought a detailed report from the airline regarding the matter.
Preliminary information suggests that the issue may have stemmed from a failure to update operational requirements related to flights to Canada, leading to the deployment of the wrong aircraft type.
In a statement issued earlier, Air India described the situation as an “operational issue” and said the decision to return was taken in line with standard safety procedures.
The DGCA has now asked the airline to strengthen its internal checks to prevent such lapses in the future, underscoring the importance of strict compliance with regulatory approvals in international flight operations.
