Mid-Air scare: Air India's shaking door makes hissing noise; crew manages situation, flight lands safely
Representative Image
MUMBAI: Passengers on board an Air India flight from Delhi to Hong Kong had a harrowing time after a door of the Boeing 787 aircraft started shaking and making hissing, growling noises about an hour into the flight operated on June 1.
AI's flight attendants plugged paper napkins into the thin gap at the top of the door and pushed it to seal and quieten it, while the flight continued to its destination and landed safely.
This was not the first case of a B787 having a door grumbling mid-flight. At least three other instances were recorded by airlines, the first in 2019 by Japan Airlines and then two cases in 2022 involving German carrier TUI Airlines and American Airlines.
In all three cases, pilots diverted the flight back to the airport of origin because of the noisy doors.
The Boeing 787 aircraft and safety concerns around it have been in focus since the June 12 Ahmedabad crash which killed 275 people. The incident on the flight to Hong Kong took place before that.
Passengers might find such incidents unnerving, but a hissing door poses no major risk to flight safety, and aircraft doors don't open mid-flight, pilots pointed out.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Free P2,000 GCash eGift
UnionBank Credit Card
Apply Now
Undo
The incident occurred on flight AI-314 which left Delhi at 11.45 pm, over an hour after its scheduled departure time. "About an hour after take-off, the door started shaking and making noises. It seemed the door seal came off due to air pressure," said a recent post on social media, quoting a passenger.
Stay informed with the latest
business
news, updates on
bank holidays
and
public holidays
.
AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
As Routes Shift,Flight Fares Goon Steep Ascent
Air fares from India to several international destinations have risen sharply in the past month, travel companies said, potentially intensifying worries for travellers especially families looking to head out for the summer holidays. Airline operating costs are getting impacted by airspace closures due to the Israel-Iran conflict, forcing longer flight detours, and fuel price volatility, the companies said, adding lower seat capacity on certain routes is also weighing on the ticket prices. Fares could rise further if route diversions and impact on flight frequencies continue, the companies said. Europe is likely to see the sharpest fare hikes, especially for routes to France, Germany and UK, said Jatinder Paul Singh, global CEO of Viacation, a travel solutions provider. 'From India, airfares to Europe have gone up by 20–35% between March and July based on forward bookings data.' Longer Diversions | page 11 Singh also noted short-term fare hikes on flights to some destinations in the Middle East. 'In North Asia, Japan and South Korea have also become significantly more expensive to reach,' he said. A one way, non-stop Air France ticket for Delhi to Paris for July 1 costs about ₹64,000 on a popular travel portal. A one way, non-stop Air India ticket for Mumbai to Japan for the same date costs ₹101, 698 per adult on the same website. Ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia have resulted in temporary airspace restrictions, leading to longer flight durations on certain routes by two to four hours, increasing operational costs of airlines, and prompting 15-20% fare hikes on certain routes, said Bharatt Malik, senior VP, flights and hotel business at Yatra Online, an online travel company. Last week, Air India diverted or recalled around 16 flights on transatlantic and European routes as Iran closed its airspace after Israel launched an attack targeting its nuclear and military sites. The Iranian airspace currently remains shut to most international flights. A June 15 advisory by IndiGo, India's largest airline, said due to the airspace curbs, flight routes to and from the Gulf region were experiencing congestion which may cause delays on certain sectors. 'As we continue to operate via alternate paths, extended travel times may be expected,' the airline in a post on X. In an update on Thursday, Air India announced a temporary reduction in services operated by Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft from June 21 till at least July 15. The suspended routes include Delhi-Nairobi, Amritsar-London, Goa-London, while routes with reduced frequency include Delhi-Washington, Delhi-San Francisco, Delhi-Toronto, and Delhi-Tokyo. For some carriers, airfares for Dubai and Abu Dhabi are 10-15% higher from a month ago, while those to Japan and South Korea are 5-10% higher, said Abraham Alapatt, president and group head for marketing, service quality, value added services and innovation at travel company Thomas Cook (India). Industry insiders said the first wave of fare hikes started around late April, when Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers. This affected many flights departing from north Indian cities, with reroutes adding up to three hours on some long-haul journeys. 'Subsequently, in mid-June, airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, and surrounding regions due to escalating conflict in the Middle East compounded the situation,' said Karan Agarwal, director at Cox & Kings. 'The dual impact of these disruptions has led to fare hikes of about 8–12% on Gulf-bound and short-haul international flights, while fares to Europe and North America have risen more sharply, by approximately 30–45% compared to earlier this year. These changes have unfolded gradually over a span of six to eight weeks, and pricing remains dynamic depending on route and carrier capacity,' he added. Increased flight duration, especially on long-haul routes connecting Europe, the Middle East, and the US, not only disrupts schedules but also raises operational costs like fuel, crew time, and landing charges inevitably pushing fares upwards, said Ravi Gosain, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO). 'Compounding this is the surge in crude oil prices, which directly impacts aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs. For international carriers, ATF can constitute up to 30–40% of operating expenses, making fare adjustments almost unavoidable,' he added. While airfares are expected to rise further given the surge in oil prices and longer flying times on account of airspace closures, the demand scenario will also have a role to play, said Ajay Prakash, VP, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH). 'Combine that with the comparatively lower airfares that Air India is currently offering on some routes, we could have a very fluid situation and airfares in the same sector could differ significantly from day to day and flight to flight. But there is definitely pressure on airlines to increase fares to compensate for increased operating costs.'
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Air India Boeing 787 flight to Hong Kong faces technical troubles; crew use napkins to seal gaps of shaking door
Passengers on an Air India flight from Delhi to Hong Kong experienced a mid-air scare on June 1 when a door on the Boeing 787 began shaking and emitting hissing and growling noises about an hour after take-off. Flight attendants responded by stuffing paper napkins into a thin gap at the top of the door and pushing it to reduce the noise and movement. Despite the unsettling incident, the flight continued as scheduled and landed safely in Hong Kong, according to a TOI report. This wasn't the first time a Boeing 787 reported a noisy door mid-flight. Similar incidents have been recorded at least three times before, first in 2019 with Japan Airlines, followed by two cases in 2022 involving German carrier TUI Airlines and American Airlines. In all three instances, the flights were diverted back to their departure airports due to the issue. The Boeing 787 aircraft and safety concerns around it have been in focus since the June 12 Ahmedabad crash which killed 275 people. The incident on the flight to Hong Kong took place before that. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Never Put Eggs In The Refrigerator. Here's Why... Novelodge Undo by Taboola by Taboola Passengers might find such incidents unnerving, but a hissing door poses no major risk to flight safety, and aircraft doors don't open mid-flight, pilots pointed out. The incident occurred on flight AI-314 which left Delhi at 11.45 pm, over an hour after its scheduled departure time. "About an hour after take-off, the door started shaking and making noises. It seemed the door seal came off due to air pressure," said a recent post on social media, quoting a passenger. Live Events Air India on maintenance of Boeing aircraft The crashed Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was "well-maintained" with its last major check in June 2023 and the next scheduled for December 2025, said Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson on Thursday. In a message to flyers, the Air India chief also said the 15 per cent reduction in Air India's widebody fleet operations for the next few weeks is a temporary move. "The plane was well-maintained, with its last major check in June 2023 and the next scheduled for December 2025. Its right engine was overhauled in March 2025, and the left engine was inspected in April 2025. Both the aircraft and engines were regularly monitored, showing no issues before the flight," he said. Campbell said that following the June 12 crash and as directed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the airline has been conducting thorough safety inspections on its 33 Boeing 787 aircraft. So far, inspections have been completed on 26 aircraft and these have been cleared for service, he said and added that the remaining aircraft are currently in planned maintenance and will have these additional checks done before being released into service. 'Following the review, the DGCA has confirmed that Air India Boeing 787 fleet and maintenance processes fully meet safety standards,' he said. While DGCA raised concerns over recent maintenance-related issues at Air India and directed airline to boost inter-department coordination, it said that the surveillance of the airline's Boeing 787 fleet did not reveal any major safety concerns in the wake of the fatal plane crash in Ahmedabad last week. On June 13, a day after the crash , the Directorate General of Civil Aviation ordered enhanced surveillance of Air India's Boeing 787 fleet, comprising 26 787-8s and seven 787-9s.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
New Canada strong pass opens doors to citizens and immigrants, providing free access to national parks and discounts on travel
The new Canada Strong Pass , launched by the government, is open to everyone in the country including Canadian citizens, permanent residents, international students, temporary foreign workers, tourists, and visitors. The initiative is aimed at encouraging travel and cultural exploration across Canada by offering free access to national parks and discounts on travel and museums, as per a report by CIC News. The program runs from June 20 to September 2, 2025, and no registration or physical pass is required. Anyone can simply visit a participating location to enjoy the benefits, which will be applied automatically. Under the Canada Strong Pass, Parks Canada sites: including national parks, marine conservation areas, and historic sites are offering free entry to all. In addition, visitors can avail discounts on campgrounds and roofed accommodations. Backcountry day-use fees in Northern Canada are waived, and overnight backcountry stays are also available at a discount. Lockage fees at canals on historic waterways are also being waived. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Don't Miss The Top Packaging Trends Of 2024, Enhnace Your Brand With The Latest Insights Packaging Machines | Search Ads Search Now Undo If travellers have already purchased Parks Canada passes or booked VIA Rail travel before June 16 for the travel period between June 20 and September 2, they may be eligible for partial refunds or pass extensions. Seasonal park passes will be extended by three months, and campsite reservations will include refund instructions by email. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) According to the CIC News report, Anna Gainey, Secretary of State (Children and Youth) said, 'With fewer financial barriers, we hope even more people will have the chance to explore our stunning landscapes, vibrant cities, and rich cultural heritage.' Live Events RECOMMENDED STORIES FOR YOU Canada's population growth slows as immigration rules tighten Canada weather warning: Heavy rains, severe storms in store for Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, North
