By :- Shruti Tiwari
An Air India flight (AI103) en route from New Delhi to Washington D.C. was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Vienna due to a technical glitch discovered during a routine refueling halt. Following the detection of the issue, the flight was cancelled to ensure passenger safety.
According to an official statement from Air India, the aircraft landed in Vienna for a scheduled fuel stop. During the routine inspection, a technical malfunction was identified, which required more time than expected to fix. As a result, the continuation of the flight from Vienna to Washington D.C. was cancelled.
Passengers were deboarded in Vienna and provided with alternative travel arrangements. Eligible travelers—those with valid Schengen visas or visa-free entry status—were accommodated in local hotels until the next available flight. Meanwhile, passengers without immediate entry clearance were provided support in coordination with Austrian immigration and security authorities until proper arrangements could be made.
Air India also cancelled the return flight AI104 from Washington D.C. to New Delhi via Vienna due to the aircraft’s unavailability. Affected passengers were rebooked on alternative flights to Delhi, and a full refund option was extended to all.
In an official statement, an Air India spokesperson said:
“We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers. The safety of our customers and crew remains our top priority. The decision to cancel the flight was taken under enhanced pre-flight safety protocols.”
Air India operates over 1,100 flights daily, transporting more than 150,000 passengers. The airline acknowledged ongoing operational challenges due to airspace closures, airport restrictions in parts of Europe and East Asia, and growing air traffic congestion. Recently, the airline announced the implementation of voluntary, enhanced pre-flight safety checks, which may lead to temporary flight reductions to maintain high safety standards.