Latest news with #FlightDutyTimeLimitations
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Mumbai-bound Air India flight from San Francisco suffers technical snag; passengers deplaned in Kolkata
An Air India flight from San Francisco to Mumbai developed a technical snag in one of its engines, forcing passengers to deplane during a scheduled stop at Kolkata airport early Tuesday. Flight AI180 landed on time at 12.45 am, but a snag in the left engine delayed its onward departure. Around 5.20 am, an onboard announcement directed all passengers to disembark. The aircraft's captain informed passengers that the decision was made in the interest of flight safety. Earlier on Monday, Air India's flight AI2493 from Mumbai to Ahmedabad was cancelled after facing delays due to operational issues, news agency ANI reported, citing sources. The Airbus A321-211 (VT-PPL), assigned to operate the flight, was initially delayed for unspecified reasons. During this time, the assigned crew exceeded their Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), the maximum hours crew members are allowed to work to ensure safety, leading to the flight's cancellation. Meanwhile, an Air India Express flight from Delhi to Ranchi was forced to return to the capital shortly after take-off on Monday due to a suspected technical problem. The Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft was originally scheduled to land at Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport at 6.20 pm. After inspection and clearance, the aircraft resumed normal operations, an airline spokesperson said. An Air India Express spokesperson said, 'One of our flights returned to Delhi after takeoff due to a suspected technical issue. Following inspections and necessary clearances, the aircraft resumed scheduled operations. We regret the inconvenience caused.' Earlier in the day, an Air India flight bound for Delhi was forced to return to Hong Kong mid-air after the pilot reported a suspected technical problem. Flight AI315, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, had taken off from Hong Kong and was expected to land in Delhi at 12.20 pm, according to flight tracking site FlightRadar24. All passengers deboarded safely, and the aircraft is currently undergoing a safety inspection. ANI inputs
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Air India Mumbai-Ahmedabad flight cancelled after crew duty time expired amid delay
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 17 (ANI): Air India's flight AI2493 from Mumbai to Ahmedabad was cancelled on Monday after facing delays caused by operational issues, eventually leading to the expiry of the crew's duty time, according to sources. The flight, which was supposed to be operated by an Airbus A321-211 aircraft (VT-PPL), was first delayed due to an unspecified operational issue. During this delay, the assigned crew reached the limit of their Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), a rule that restricts the number of hours airline crew members can work for safety reasons. Meanwhile, an Air India Express flight from Delhi to Ranchi was diverted back to the national capital shortly after taking off on Monday due to a suspected technical issue. The Boeing 737 Max 8 plane was scheduled to land at Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport at 6:20 PM. After the inspection and clearance, the aircraft continued its normal operations, according to an Air India spokesperson. 'One of our flights returned to Delhi after takeoff due to a suspected technical issue. Post inspections and clearance, the aircraft continued scheduled operations. We regret the inconvenience,' Athe ir India Express Spokesperson said. Earlier in the day, an Air India flight, which was supposed to land in Delhi, was diverted back to Hong Kong after the pilot suspected a technical issue mid-air, according to sources. The AI 315 flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, had departed from Hong Kong to Delhi. According to the flight tracking site, Flight Radar 24, the Air India flight was supposed to reach Delhi by 12.20 PM. Sources said that the passengers deboarded safely and the plane is undergoing a safety check. (ANI)
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Air India cancels Mumbai to Ahmedabad flight operated by Airbus
Air India flight AI2493 from Mumbai (BOM) to Ahmedabad (AMD), operated by an Airbus A321-211 (VT-PPL), was cancelled on Monday. According to ANI sources, the flight was initially delayed due to an operational issue. However, during the delay window, the crew's Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) came into effect, resulting in the cancellation. The flight was scheduled to depart at 6.35 pm and arrive at 7.55 pm, but did not depart. In another incident, a Ranchi-bound Air India Express flight was forced to return to Delhi on Monday after a suspected technical issue. This marks one of several Air India-related disruptions reported in the past 36 hours, raising fresh concerns over recurring technical glitches. ALSO READ: Air India Express flight from Delhi to Ranchi diverted back to national capital after technical issue by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Other such incidents included a British F-35 fighter jet making an emergency landing in Kerala due to low fuel on Sunday, a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Hyderabad turning back mid-air following a bomb threat, and an Air India flight from Hong Kong to Delhi returning to its point of origin after a suspected technical snag on Monday. Last week, an Air India flight to London crashed in Ahmedabad moments after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. Live Events The crash adds to the challenges for Air India, which has for years been trying to revamp its fleet, and for Boeing, which is trying to rebuild public trust following a series of safety and production crises.
Mint
25-04-2025
- Business
- Mint
Pakistan airspace closure: Why Copenhagen and Vienna emerge as Air India's new en route points
As Pakistan closed its airspace for Indian airlines effective 1800 hours from April 24 for a month, a spate of diversions started. While the first flights diverted to the nearest point where refuelling and quick turnaround were possible, a pattern formed later in the day. IndiGo's flight from Sharjah to Amritsar, which had to change its course midway, diverted to Ahmedabad before continuing its journey onwards. Air India saw diversions of flights from London and Paris to Abu Dhabi, while flights from North America diverted to Vienna and Copenhagen. As things became clear, the airline seemed to have put a plan in place to utilise Copenhagen and Vienna as the points for en route technical stops for flights to or from North America. This has led to significant delays in the network, with some flights being delayed by three to six hours. A technical stop involves refuelling in this case, but each landing comes with its set of procedures, which includes transit checks even when passengers have not deplaned and ensuring the minimum turnaround time needed for cooling of brakes and other equipment. This has multiple impacts, one of which is increased cycles. Aircraft parts are up for checks and maintenance based on the number of cycles and hours. The increased number of landings would increase the cycle count, potentially throwing a spanner in Air India's plans. Copenhagen and Vienna are airports where Air India currently operates and some of the cheaper ones to operate in Europe. Additionally, they are not as congested as London Heathrow, Paris or Frankfurt where getting a slot is difficult and turning around a plane will take longer. They also fall mid-way in terms of block time, which would help to have a crew base on a temporary basis and change the crew, ensuring adequate rest as per the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). Air India has so far not cancelled any sectors, but it may be forced to reduce frequency to some as it does not have spare aircraft to operate and use as a buffer in case of delays and their cascading effect. Interglobe Aviation, the parent of IndiGo, saw a drop of 3.8 per cent in its share price, even as the benchmark index was down 0.8 per cent on Friday. IndiGo, which was the first to cancel flights yesterday, has stopped sale of flights to Almaty and Tashkent until May 7, 2025, potentially stranding tourists who are already booked. Its flights to Istanbul from Delhi would not need a tech stop since they are operated by the widebody B777 aircraft leased from Turkish Airways, but saw an incremental flying time of 30 minutes. Flights to the Middle East from Delhi and other northern airports were delayed due to increased flying time. IndiGo intends to start thrice-a-week operations to Manchester and Amsterdam from Delhi this July, where it will use a Norse Atlantic Dreamliner on damp lease. The bookings are not yet open, but the closure of airspace could potentially jeopardise the operations since the profitability calculations now need to be revisited if the closure extends beyond the one-month NOTAM (Notice to Airmen). Delhi overtook Mumbai as the largest airport in India in 2008-9 and there has been no looking back since then. Will this closure, the second since 2019, lead to airlines revisiting Delhi as the primary hub and look at moving back to Mumbai? The congestion and single runway operations at Mumbai airport have always been a challenge, which could ease a bit with the start of Navi Mumbai airport later this year. Will IndiGo and Air India shift to Mumbai or have future plans centred around Mumbai? It will be a big win for Mumbai in this case.
Mint
25-04-2025
- Business
- Mint
Pakistan airspace closure: Why Copenhagen and Vienna emerge as new en route points for Air India
As Pakistan closed its airspace for Indian airlines effective 1800 hours from April 24 for a month, a spate of diversions started. While the first flights diverted to the nearest point where refuelling and quick turnaround were possible, a pattern formed later in the day. IndiGo's flight from Sharjah to Amritsar, which had to change its course midway, diverted to Ahmedabad before continuing its journey onwards. Air India saw diversions of flights from London and Paris to Abu Dhabi, while flights from North America diverted to Vienna and Copenhagen. As things became clear, the airline seemed to have put a plan in place to utilise Copenhagen and Vienna as the points for enroute technical stops for flights to or from North America. This has led to significant delays in the network with some flights being delayed by three to six hours. A technical stop involves refuelling in this case, but each landing comes with its set of procedures, which includes transit checks even when passengers have not deplaned and ensuring the minimum turnaround time needed for cooling of brakes and other equipment. This has multiple impacts, one of which is increased cycles. Aircraft parts are up for checks and maintenance based on the number of cycles and hours. The increased number of landings would increase the cycle count, potentially throwing a spanner in Air India's plans. Copenhagen and Vienna are airports where Air India currently operates and some of the cheaper ones to operate in Europe. Additionally, they are not as congested as London Heathrow, Paris or Frankfurt where getting a slot is difficult and turning around a plane will take longer. They also fall mid-way in terms of block time, which would help to have a crew base on a temporary basis and change the crew, ensuring adequate rest as per the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). Air India has so far not cancelled any sectors, but it may be forced to reduce frequency to some as it does not have spare aircraft to operate and use as buffer in case of delays and their cascading effect. Interglobe Aviation, the parent of IndiGo, saw a drop of 3.8 per cent in its share price, even as the benchmark index was down 0.8 per cent on Friday. IndiGo, which was the first to cancel flights yesterday, has stopped sale of flights to Almaty and Tashkent until May 7, 2025, potentially stranding tourists who are already booked. Its flights to Istanbul from Delhi would not need a tech stop since they are operated by the widebody B777 aircraft leased from Turkish Airways, but saw an incremental flying time of 30 minutes. Flights to the Middle East from Delhi and other northern airports were delayed due to increased flying time. IndiGo intends to start thrice-a-week operations to Manchester and Amsterdam from Delhi this July, where it will use a Norse Atlantic Dreamliner on damp lease. The bookings are not yet open, but the closure of airspace could potentially jeopardise the operations since the profitability calculations now need to be revisited, if the closure extends beyond the one-month NOTAM (Notice to Airmen). Delhi overtook Mumbai as the largest airport in India in 2008-9 and there has been no looking back since then. Will this closure, the second since 2019, lead to airlines revisiting Delhi as the primary hub and look at moving back to Mumbai? The congestion and single runway operations at Mumbai airport have always been a challenge, which could ease a bit with the start of Navi Mumbai airport later this year. Will IndiGo and Air India shift to Mumbai or have future plans centred around Mumbai? It will be a big win for Mumbai in this case. The government has made it clear that a response is on the way. The initial response has been largely political. It remains to be seen if there will be a military response that will follow, and if it does, how long it lasts and the objectives it covers. Will it be beneficial for aviation in the longer run, or do airlines need to have a backup at all times to manage such eventualities needs to be tracked for a market which has been growing at breakneck speed but can be caught on the wrong side of geopolitics. First Published: 25 Apr 2025, 08:56 PM IST
