A London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 flying from Bengaluru was diverted to Jeddah on Monday after more than six hours in the air due to a technical problem.
An airline spokesman said the diversion was a precautionary measure and the aircraft was now undergoing thorough technical checks in accordance with standard safety procedures.
“Air India flight AI133, flying from Bengaluru (BLR) to London Heathrow (LHR) on March 23, made a precautionary diversion en route to Jeddah following a suspected technical problem. The aircraft landed safely at Jeddah airport at 1958 hrs IST and all passengers and crew are confirmed safe,” the spokesperson said, according to PTI.
A spokesman for the airline added that it was working closely with Jeddah airport authorities and local agencies to ensure that passengers and crew received all necessary assistance.
“The aircraft is currently undergoing comprehensive technical checks in accordance with established safety protocols. While the precautionary diversions are carried out out of an abundance of caution and reflect our unwavering commitment to safety, we regret the inconvenience and disruption we have caused our guests,” the spokeswoman added.
They further said: “Air India is coordinating closely with Jeddah airport authorities and local agencies to ensure that all necessary assistance is provided to passengers and crew. Their safety and well-being remains our highest priority.”
The exact number of passengers on board the plane could not be confirmed.
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Data from flight-tracking website Flightradar24.com indicated the plane had been in the air for more than six hours.
Air Canada jet crashes into vehicle at New York’s LaGuardia Airport; 2 dead
In other news, two pilots were killed and dozens injured after an Air Canada Express flight collided with a vehicle shortly after landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday, highlighting continuing concerns about aviation safety. The plane struck a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey ground vehicle, the New York Police Department said, prompting the closure of LaGuardia to inbound flights from across the U.S. and Canada.
It is not yet known if there were any injuries. The disruption to the flight earlier that evening was due to bad weather. Images on social media purporting to show the Air Canada plane tilted on its tail with a damaged nose have not been independently verified by Bloomberg.
FlightRadar24 data shows that flight AC8646 departed Montreal and landed at LaGuardia at 11:37 p.m. local time. According to records, it was a 20-year-old CRJ-900LR aircraft.
Air Canada and the Port Authority, which manages LaGuardia, did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside regular business hours. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also did not respond to inquiries.
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The incident adds to a series of accidents that have made last year one of the deadliest for civil aviation in a decade. In November, a United Parcel Service (UPS) cargo plane crashed and exploded shortly after takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky.
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In June, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed seconds after takeoff, killing 241 passengers on board and leaving one survivor. Additionally, in January 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a US Army helicopter near Washington, marking one of the deadliest civil aviation disasters in recent US history.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that the airport will be closed from 12:04 p.m. local time, with the restriction lasting until 1:30 a.m.; however, the notice stated that the closure would most likely be extended.
(With input from agencies)
