An Air India flight from Delhi to Washington DC was grounded in Vienna on Wednesday after a routine inspection revealed a technical issue that needed extended maintenance. The flight, AI103, had left Delhi on July 2 and made a scheduled stop in Vienna for refuelling, which is part of the airline’s regular long-haul operation procedures.
During this stopover, a standard safety check was carried out, and engineers discovered a maintenance problem that needed more time to fix. As a result, the airline cancelled the remaining leg of the journey to Washington. All passengers were asked to disembark in Vienna, as per media reports.
An Air India spokesperson said that the airline arranged hotel accommodation for passengers who were either eligible for visa-free entry or had valid Schengen visas. For those who could not enter Austria due to visa restrictions, the airline said it was working closely with local immigration and security officials to provide necessary support, including waiting areas and basic services.
The delay also affected the return flight, AI104 from Washington to Delhi, which was cancelled. Air India confirmed that passengers impacted by the disruption have been either rebooked on other available flights or offered full refunds.
This latest incident adds to growing concerns over Air India’s operations. In June this year, the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad had shook the nation.