Air India Flight AI219 Returns to Delhi After Technical Issue Near Lucknow

An Air India passenger flight bound for Kathmandu was forced to turn back to the national capital on Saturday after the crew reported a suspected technical issue, airline and airport officials said.

Flight AI219, operated by an Airbus A320-214, departed Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi at 2:42 pm IST and was scheduled to arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu at 4:30 pm Nepal time. The aircraft was approaching Nepali airspace when the problem was reported. It was diverted while flying over the Lucknow area and returned safely to Delhi.

An official at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport told news agency ANI: “The aircraft was about to enter Nepali airspace, but it got diverted from the airspace above Lucknow after reporting technical issues. The details are yet to be confirmed and briefed.”

Air India confirmed the diversion was carried out as a precaution in line with standard operating procedures. “The crew operating flight AI219 from Delhi to Kathmandu on 19 September returned to Delhi due to a suspected technical issue, as per standard operating procedure. The flight landed safely at Delhi and all passengers and crew disembarked,” a spokesperson said.

The airline’s ground team in Delhi provided immediate assistance to passengers, who were later flown to Kathmandu on an alternative flight. Air India expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the unforeseen situation.

Details about the exact nature of the technical issue and the number of passengers on board were not immediately available.