Air India Flight Returns to Delhi After Regulatory Oversight on Vancouver Route

An Air India flight from Delhi to Vancouver had to turn back after nine hours due to a lack of regulatory clearance for the aircraft type. The Boeing 777-200LR was not authorized for the route, leading to a safe but lengthy return to Delhi. Air India has expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to passengers and has provided assistance. This incident follows previous regulatory issues faced by the airline. Discover more about the flight's journey and the airline's response.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 20, 2026, 19:27 IST

Flight AI185's Unexpected Turnaround

New Delhi: An Air India flight en route from Delhi to Vancouver had to return to the capital after nine hours in the air due to a lack of clearance from Canada's aviation authority for the aircraft type being used.

The flight, designated AI185, departed from Delhi at 12:18 PM on Thursday, carrying a full passenger load aboard a Boeing 777-200LR. However, Air India only holds authorization from Canadian regulators for its Boeing 777-300ER models on this particular route.

While the Boeing 777-300ER can cover approximately 13,650 km and accommodate between 350 to 396 passengers, the 777-200LR is built for longer distances of about 15,840 km but has a reduced capacity of 301 to 317 seats.

The issue was identified after the aircraft had already entered Chinese airspace near Kunming, four hours post-departure, prompting the pilots to reverse course and head back to Delhi. The flight landed safely after a taxing nine-hour journey, returning passengers to their original departure point.

An Air India representative stated, "Air India flight AI185, which was operating from Delhi to Vancouver on March 19, returned to Delhi due to an operational issue, adhering to standard operating procedures. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew disembarked without incident."

"We deeply regret the inconvenience this unforeseen situation caused our guests. Our ground teams in Delhi provided all necessary support, including hotel accommodations, while we worked to ensure passengers could reach their destination as soon as possible. The flight departed again this morning for Vancouver with the passengers," the spokesperson added.

Previously, Air India faced scrutiny from the Indian civil aviation authority for operating flights without the necessary permissions. In November 2025, the airline conducted eight commercial flights using an Airbus A320neo that lacked a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC), resulting in a fine of Rs 1 crore imposed by the DGCA.