Air India SFO–Delhi Flight Diverts to Mongolia After Mid-Air Technical Alert
An Air India Boeing 777 operating flight AI174 from San Francisco to Delhi made a precautionary diversion to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, after the flight crew detected a potential technical issue mid-journey. The aircraft, registered VT-AEH, was carrying 228 passengers and 17 crew members and landed safely without incident.
AI174 departed San Francisco on November 2, 2025, at 2:25 p.m. local time, bound for Kolkata with continuing service to Delhi. When the crew identified a suspected technical warning, they opted to divert to Ulaanbaatar in accordance with standard international safety procedures.
After landing, passengers were served meals onboard before being escorted through immigration. Air India arranged hotel accommodations and began organizing onward travel to Delhi while engineers performed detailed inspections on the 16-year-old Boeing 777-200LR.
Air India confirmed the diversion in a statement, emphasizing that safety remains the company’s highest priority and expressing regret for the inconvenience caused. The airline is dispatching an alternate aircraft, along with engineers and required materials, to Ulaanbaatar. The replacement aircraft will transport passengers to Delhi, while the original jet will be ferried out once cleared.
Recent Technical Diversions Highlight Ultra-Long-Haul Challenges
This diversion follows several similar incidents involving Air India’s San Francisco routes.
- In June 2023, an SFO–Delhi flight diverted to Magadan, Russia, resulting in a 39-hour delay.
- In July 2024, another long-haul service diverted to Krasnoyarsk due to a technical snag.
These events underline the operational complexity of ultra-long-haul flights and the importance of contingency planning.
Another Air India Diversion This Week
Separately, an Air India Delhi–Bengaluru flight (AIC 2487) operating an Airbus A320neo diverted to Bhopal after receiving a cargo hold alert. Emergency protocols were activated, but the warning cleared mid-flight. The aircraft landed safely, and all 172 passengers disembarked without incident. Standard technical checks are underway.
Air India says it continues to prioritize passenger safety across its long-haul and domestic operations, with full support provided during unscheduled diversions.
Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=air+india, https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/travel-health-security/
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aviationa2z.com