Why Was Air India’s New York-Mumbai Flight Diverted To Saudi Arabia?

A Mumbai-bound Air India flight from New York was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Thursday afternoon after a cockpit warning indicated a possible cargo fire. The alert was later confirmed to be a false alarm following inspection. Here’s everything you need to know about the incident.

New York-Mumbai Air India Flight Diverted To Saudi

According to NDTV, Air India flight AI116, flying from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, was diverted to Medina, Saudi Arabia. As per the airline’s statement, the reason for this flight diversion was “an aft cargo fire indication in the cockpit.”

The Boeing 777 made a priority landing in Medina. After inspection, it was cleared and resumed its journey to Mumbai. “The aircraft landed safely without incident. Subsequent inspection of the aircraft after landing confirmed that the indication was false,” the statement said.

Also Read: Grammy-Winner Ricky Kej Slams Air India For Last-Minute Flight Cancellation & Rude Staff; Airline Says…

Special Flight From Ireland’s Shannon Lands In Delhi

Earlier on Monday, Air India’s A350 aircraft, flying from New York to Delhi, was diverted to Shannon, Ireland, due to a technical issue. According to The Economic Times, the plane, operating as flight AI102, was grounded in the city and passengers as well as crew were stranded in the Irish town.

To manage the situation, the airline arranged a special Boeing 787 from Zurich to Shannon, which later departed for Delhi on Wednesday afternoon and arrived early Thursday morning. Over 220 passengers were affected in this ordeal and each will be receiving ₹20,000 as a goodwill gesture.

Also Read: From March 12, Air India Flights Get Costlier; Fuel Fee To Be Charged Amid West Asia Conflict

We’re relieved that all passengers remained safe in both incidents and were able to continue their journeys.

Cover Image Courtesy: Flickr (representative image)