New Delhi: An Air India flight bound for Vancouver was forced to return to Delhi after being airborne for more than seven hours due to an operational and regulatory issue, sources said.

The flight, AI185, departed from Delhi on March 19 and was operated using a Boeing 777-200LR (VT-AEI). However, mid-journey, it was found that the aircraft was not approved for operating this specific international route to Canada, prompting the crew to turn back as per safety protocols.

According to sources, the issue stemmed from an apparent lapse in regulatory compliance, where the required approvals for operating the Delhi-Vancouver route were not aligned with the aircraft deployed. The service was reportedly supposed to be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER instead.

The aircraft had already entered Chinese airspace before the decision was made to return, as per flight tracking data. The airline later confirmed that the move was in line with standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure passenger safety and regulatory adherence.

Air India later arranged an alternative departure, and the flight resumed its journey to Vancouver on Friday morning.

What did Air India say?

In an official statement, Air India said, "Air India flight AI185, operating from Delhi to Vancouver on 19 March, returned to Delhi due to an operational issue and in line with established standard operating procedures. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew had disembarked."