An Air India passenger flight operating from New Delhi to Kathmandu was diverted back to the national capital on Saturday after reporting “technical issues”, according to an official at Kathmandu Airport who spoke to ANI.
Flight AI219 had approached Nepali airspace when it was turned around and directed back to Delhi. An official at Tribhuvan International Airport confirmed to ANI that the diversion followed a technical problem.
“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,” the official told ANI.
Air India Issues Statement
Air India later confirmed that the flight returned to Delhi on September 19 following a suspected technical issue, in line with standard operating procedures. The aircraft landed safely, following which all passengers and crew members disembarked.
“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. Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this unforeseen situation. Our ground team at Delhi extended all immediate assistance to the passengers, who were flown to Kathmandu on an alternative flight in a short while. At Air India, the safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain top priority.”
The aircraft involved was an Airbus A320-214. It departed from New Delhi at 2:42 pm IST and was scheduled to reach Kathmandu at 4:30 pm NPT. Details regarding the number and identity of passengers onboard were not immediately available.
Tribhuvan International Airport has not issued a separate statement regarding the diversion.
(With Inputs From ANI)
