MUMBAI- A US-bound Air India (AI) flight returned to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) shortly after takeoff due to a suspected technical issue. The flight, operating as AI191 to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), landed safely back in Mumbai on Wednesday morning (October 22, 2025).
Following the air return, both AI191 and the corresponding Newark-Mumbai service AI144 were canceled. Air India confirmed that affected passengers in both cities were provided accommodation and rebooked on alternative flights.
Air India Flight Returns to Mumbai
According to Air India, the crew operating flight AI191 from Mumbai (BOM) to Newark (EWR) on October 22 opted for a precautionary air return after noticing a potential technical problem.
The Boeing aircraft landed safely back in Mumbai without incident, where it was immediately taken out of service for detailed inspection.
The airline stated that the decision was made purely out of caution and in line with standard safety procedures. Engineers began examining the aircraft soon after landing to determine the cause of the suspected issue before it re-entered service.
As a result of the incident, both the outbound AI191 and return AI144 services between Mumbai and Newark were canceled.
Air India arranged hotel stays and rebookings for passengers in Mumbai. Those scheduled to fly from Newark were informed of the cancellation and offered assistance with alternate travel options.
An airline spokesperson said the airline was working to minimize inconvenience and ensure passengers reach their destinations as soon as possible. The carrier reiterated that passenger safety remains its highest priority.
The aircraft involved in the incident is a Boeing 777-300ER, registered as VT-AEQ. Further, it is a 12.5-year-old aircraft powered by GE90 engines and was previously operated by Etihad Airways (EY).
Similar Incident
An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner faced a brief delay at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) after a technical alert prompted safety checks before departure to Delhi (DEL).
The issue, identified on flight AI315 operating aircraft VT-ANO, was resolved after engineers performed standard diagnostics and system resets, allowing the aircraft to depart safely later that morning.
Air India (AI315) was scheduled to depart Hong Kong (HKG) for Delhi (DEL) around 8:50 a.m. local time on October 16, 2025, when cockpit systems detected an onboard anomaly. Following safety protocols, the aircraft remained on the ground while engineers conducted diagnostic checks.
Air India officials confirmed that the delay resulted from a minor fault that required a component reset—a common procedure for advanced aircraft like the Boeing 787-8. Once maintenance teams verified system stability, the flight was cleared for departure and took off at approximately 11:30 a.m., landing safely in Delhi that afternoon.
The airline emphasized that passenger safety was never compromised. Such precautionary holds, while occasionally inconvenient, are standard practice to ensure flight readiness and regulatory compliance.
The affected aircraft, VT-ANO, had previously experienced another technical event earlier in October when its Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed unexpectedly while approaching Birmingham Airport (BHX).
In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) instructed Air India to reinspect the RAT units across its Boeing 787 fleet.
The RAT is an emergency power source that deploys automatically in case of total hydraulic or electrical failure, ensuring that critical systems remain functional.
India’s aviation regulator continues to monitor Air India’s Dreamliner operations in coordination with Boeing, focusing on ensuring fleet-wide airworthiness and system reliability.
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