On Monday, June 16, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI315, returned to Hong Kong International Airport shortly after takeoff due to a suspected technical issue.
The flight, bound for New Delhi, had departed at around 12:16 p.m. local time, already delayed by over three hours.
Just 90 minutes into the flight, the operating crew decided to turn back as a precaution. The flight landed safely at 1:15 p.m. local time without further incident.
Air India AI315 Hong Kong-Delhi
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Air India flight AI315 was operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. It had conducted a normal takeoff from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).
The flight was a scheduled service bound for Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL).
Following departure, flight data shows that the aircraft had climbed to flight level FL220 before terminating the climb.
The pilot of Flight AI315 communicated with Air Traffic Control, requesting to stay near Hong Kong before safely returning.
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A direct return to the origin airport in Hong Kong was then carried out. The aircraft conducting the A!315 service from Hong Kong was a Boeing 787-8, registered VT-NAC. This is a 7.7 year old widebody aircraft belonging to the carrier Air India.
It has been in operational service with the airline since its initial delivery from the factory in October 2017.
Air India confirmed the incident, stating that the aircraft returned to Hong Kong for technical checks to ensure passenger safety.
The airline promptly arranged alternative travel options for passengers and provided on-ground support to minimize disruptions.
While the exact nature of the issue remains undisclosed, the aircraft is under thorough examination by technical teams.
Passengers were evacuated without incident, but the event has heightened concerns about the reliability of the Boeing 787-8, especially after recent technical issues with similar aircraft.
For instance, a British Airways 787-8 returned to London Heathrow on June 15, and a Lufthansa flight to Hyderabad turned back to Frankfurt on the same day, both due to technical problems.
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Summary
This incident comes at a sensitive time for Air India and the Boeing 787-8 model. Just four days earlier, on June 12, 2025, another Air India 787-8 tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India.
Flight AI171 was lost, with the deaths of 241 of 242 people on board and at least 29 on the ground.
The disaster prompted Indian aviation authorities to mandate rigorous safety inspections of all Air India Boeing 787s, particularly those with General Electric GenX engines.
As of June 16, nine of Air India’s 33 Boeing 787s had been inspected, with the rest still under review.
The aviation industry is closely monitoring these developments, as public confidence in the Dreamliner model faces scrutiny.
Air India’s swift response and commitment to safety are commendable, but questions linger about the recurring issues with this aircraft type.
As investigations continue, regulators await clarity on the cause of flight AI315’s technical glitch and the broader implications for Boeing’s flagship model.
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