An Air India Boeing 777-200LR operating flight AI185 from Delhi to Vancouver was forced to return mid-air after a regulatory clearance issue. The aircraft used for the flight did not have approval to operate into Canada.
The flight had already been airborne for over four hours and entered Chinese airspace when the discrepancy was identified. It later returned to Delhi after nearly nine hours of flying, causing inconvenience to passengers and operational losses.
Reports indicate that Air India had clearance to operate only its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on Canadian routes. Deploying the 777-200LR without proper approval led to the rare mid-air return to comply with international aviation regulations.
Such incidents are uncommon and highlight operational oversight rather than a systemic issue. Aviation authorities enforce strict aircraft-specific approvals to ensure safety and regulatory compliance across international routes