Why it matters
Affects 2 airline programs (Air India, Delta Air Lines).
What happened
On Thursday, March 19, 2026, Air India flight AI185, scheduled from Delhi (DEL) to Vancouver (YVR), diverted back to Delhi after approximately three hours in the air. The flight, originally scheduled for a Boeing 777-300ER, was operated by a Boeing 777-200LR (VT-AEI), an ex-Delta aircraft. After taking off at 12:18 PM, the plane flew east across India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, entering Chinese airspace near Kunming before turning around. It landed back in Delhi at 7:18 PM, resulting in a 7-hour 'flight to nowhere.' Air India cited an 'operational issue' and standard operating procedures, without specifying the cause. The prevailing theory among frequent flyers is that the 777-200LR lacks specific air rights or equipment certifications required for the DEL-YVR route, unlike the 777-300ER. Another theory suggests the ex-Delta aircraft lacks sufficient passenger oxygen for high-terrain descents over the Hindu Kush. Passengers were put up in a hotel and re-flown to Vancouver the following day
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