Air India Express flight from Kolkata to Hindon airport delayed due to technical snag in aircraft

A Hindon airport, Ghaziabad-bound Air India Express flight was delayed due to a technical snag on its originally assigned aircraft, the airline's spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday.

The passengers who were impacted due to the delay were offered complimentary reschedules or cancellations with a full refund, the spokesperson added.

"Our Kolkata - Hindon flight operated, with a delay, due to a snag on the originally assigned aircraft. Guests were offered complimentary reschedules or cancellations with a full refund. We regret the inconvenience," the Air India Express spokesperson was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.


The airline said that all affected passengers were kept informed and offered alternatives to minimize disruption to their travel plans.

Enhanced checks underway for Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet

Meanwhile, Air India is currently in the process of conducting enhanced safety checks on its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft, following a directive from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The airline said it has already finished inspecting nine of its 33 Dreamliner planes and aims to complete checks on the rest within the deadline set by regulators. The move comes after Thursday’s incident in Ahmedabad, where a London-bound Air India flight crashed soon after takeoff, prompting the DGCA to order additional maintenance checks across the carrier’s 787 fleet.

As the aircraft return to India, Air India engineers are putting each through a rigorous evaluation before clearing it for service. The checks cover a range of components, from the Fuel Parameter Monitoring and associated systems, to the Electronic Engine Control and oil mechanisms, alongside serviceability reviews of the hydraulic components and a complete flight control inspection.

Some disruptions are expected during this process, particularly on long-haul services to airports with restrictive operating hours. Air India has assured passengers affected by cancellations or delays that it is offering full refunds or complimentary reschedules.

The DGCA has demanded Air India submit reports on all these checks once finished and to close any maintenance issues promptly.

Further, the airline must carry out power assurance checks within two weeks and introduce additional flight control inspections during transit until further notice.