An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner made a precautionary return to Hong Kong International Airport on Monday after encountering a technical issue shortly after takeoff, airline officials confirmed.
Flight AI317, which was en route to Delhi, experienced a suspected technical fault mid-air, prompting the flight crew to initiate a return as a safety measure. The aircraft, carrying 231 passengers and crew members, landed safely back in Hong Kong without incident.
“All passengers are safe, and the aircraft landed without any emergency declaration,” Air India said in a statement. “The decision to return was taken in line with standard operating procedures and with the safety of passengers and crew as the top priority.”
Airport operations remained largely unaffected, although the airline said engineers are currently inspecting the aircraft to determine the exact cause of the issue.
Passengers were accommodated at the airport while the airline arranged an alternate aircraft to complete the journey to Delhi. Air India also confirmed that all affected travelers would be offered meals, hotel accommodation if necessary, and assistance with rebooking.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been notified, and an internal investigation will be conducted.
This incident marks the latest in a series of precautionary returns by global carriers as part of strict aviation safety standards.
