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Air India Delhi-US flight cancelled after snag during Vienna fuel stop
Flight AI103, which departed Delhi at 12:45 am on Wednesday and was scheduled to land in Washington by 8:45 pm on Thursday, made a planned fuel stop in the Austrian capital. During refuelling, engineers identified a fault requiring extended maintenance, leading to the cancellation of the onward leg.
'Flight AI103 from Delhi to Washington, DC, on July 2, 2025 made a planned fuel stop in Vienna. During routine aircraft checks, an extended maintenance task was identified, which required rectification before the next flight and, thus, additional time for completion,' an airline spokesperson was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Vienna–Washington leg cancelled, passengers rerouted
Following the incident, the Vienna–Washington leg was cancelled. Passengers holding valid Schengen visas or eligible for visa-free entry were accommodated in hotels. Others were assisted based on immigration and security clearance procedures by Austrian authorities.
Air India also cancelled the return flight AI104 from Washington, DC, to Delhi via Vienna. 'Passengers have been rebooked on alternative flights to Delhi or offered full refunds based on their preferences,' the airline said.
Air India cites safety as priority
The airline expressed regret over the disruption and said it was acting in line with its voluntary enhanced pre-flight safety checks. 'The carrier deeply regrets the inconvenience caused and remains committed to prioritising the safety of all passengers and crew,' the spokesperson said.
This comes in the wake of increased scrutiny over safety procedures after a London-bound Air India flight crashed seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad, prompting the airline to announce stricter pre-flight inspections and a temporary service reduction.
On June 14, another Air India flight to Vienna lost altitude shortly after take-off from Delhi, descending 900 feet mid-air. Both pilots involved have been taken off duty pending investigation.
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