Air India to Operate Relief Flight for Passengers Stranded in Mongolia After Technical Diversion
Air India will operate a relief flight from Delhi to Ulaanbaatar to bring back passengers of flight AI174, which was diverted to Mongolia on November 2 due to a suspected technical issue. The airline, in coordination with local authorities and the Indian Embassy, has been providing accommodations and support. The relief flight is scheduled to depart Delhi and return with the affected passengers on Wednesday morning.
Air India flight AI174, operating from San Francisco to Delhi via Kolkata, made a precautionary landing in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on November 2 after the crew suspected a technical issue mid-flight. The airline confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and is undergoing necessary checks. As a result, 228 passengers and crew have been stranded in Mongolia for over 24 hours. In response, Air India announced that it will operate a special relief flight, AI183, from Delhi to Ulaanbaatar to ferry the affected passengers back to Delhi, with the return scheduled for Wednesday morning. The airline has been working closely with local authorities and the Indian Embassy in Mongolia to ensure the well-being of passengers, including providing hotel accommodations and regular updates. Air India emphasized that passenger safety and comfort remain its top priorities. In a separate development, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted a temporary extension to flight duty times for two-pilot Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft operating on extended European routes due to the closure of Pakistani airspace, increasing both the Flight Duty Time Limitation and Flight Duty Period for such operations.
