Air India’s Flight To Nowhere: Wrong Plane, 8 Hours In Air, And A U-Turn

An Air India flight bound for Vancouver returned to Delhi after nearly eight hours in the air due to a regulatory oversight. Flight AI185, operated by a Boeing 777-200LR, departed Delhi at 11:34 am but was forced to turn back after entering Chinese airspace near Kunming.
Initially heading eastward, the aircraft was on its way to Canada when airline officials realized that the Boeing 777-200LR was not authorized to operate in Canada, where Air India currently holds approval only for its Boeing 777-300ER fleet. The aircraft, therefore, was called back mid-flight, completing a total of 7 hours and 54 minutes in the air before safely landing back in Delhi.
All passengers and crew disembarked without incident. In a statement, Air India cited an “operational issue” and confirmed that the decision to return was in line with standard procedures. The airline apologized for the inconvenience and said ground teams provided assistance, including hotel accommodations, to affected passengers. The flight resumed this morning with all passengers on board.
The incident is expected to incur significant costs, given the fuel consumption of the Boeing 777-200LR, which typically burns around eight to nine tonnes per hour.