Air India flight AI185, bound from Delhi to Vancouver, departed Indira Gandhi International Airport on March 19 at 11:34 a.m. or 12:18 p.m. local time with a full load of passengers aboard a Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. The flight proceeded eastward, entering Chinese airspace near Kunming after approximately 3.5 to four hours, when ground staff realized the aircraft lacked regulatory clearance from Canadian authorities.
Canada approves Air India operations to its territory using only the Boeing 777-300ER variant, which offers a range of about 13,650 km and seats 350–396 passengers. The deployed 777-200LR, designed for longer range up to 15,840 km but with capacity for 301–317 passengers, did not meet these requirements due to aviation protocols specifying fleet-type permissions.
Pilots immediately turned back, landing safely in Delhi after a total airborne time of nearly nine hours. The incident incurred substantial costs, as a Boeing 777 burns 8–9 tonnes of fuel per hour amid elevated oil prices.
An Air India spokesperson stated: “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.” Ground teams provided hotel accommodations, and passengers departed for Vancouver the following morning on a compliant aircraft.
Sources indicate Air India views the lapse seriously, with potential internal actions. The airline faced a prior Rs 1 crore fine from India’s DGCA in November 2025 for operating an un certified Airbus A320neo.