An Air India cancelled flight that was supposed to travel from New Delhi to Washington, D.C., after making a scheduled refuelling stop in Vienna, Austria, when a technical issue forced the airline to ground the aircraft.

Flight AI103 Lands in Vienna but Doesn’t Take Off Again

Flight data from Flightradar24 confirmed that Air India flight AI103 departed from Delhi on July 2 and landed safely in Vienna. Although it was scheduled to continue to Washington on the same day, the onward journey was never completed.

Extended Maintenance Leads to Cancellation

According to Air India, the stopover in Vienna was pre-planned. However, during routine checks on the ground, a technical snag was discovered that required additional maintenance. As a result, the aircraft remained grounded longer than expected.

An Air India spokesperson stated, “The flight’s Vienna to Washington leg was cancelled due to necessary repairs. All passengers were safely deplaned in Vienna.”

Return Service AI104 Also Affected

As a result of this disruption, Air India cancelled flight AI104 as well — the return leg from Washington, D.C. to Delhi via Vienna. Affected passengers were either provided with alternate flights or issued full refunds, based on their preferences.

Prior Incident on Another Vienna-Bound Air India Flight

Just days earlier, another Air India service headed for Vienna — flight AI187 — encountered a mid-air safety alert. As per a Times of India report, shortly after taking off from Delhi at 2:56 AM on June 14, the aircraft received a “stick shaker” alert followed by a Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) warning stating “don’t sink.”

The plane experienced a temporary altitude drop of around 900 feet during its ascent. However, the flight crew managed to recover the aircraft and safely complete the journey to Vienna.

Concerns Rise After Fatal Air India Crash

The in-air altitude loss incident came just 38 hours after the tragic AI171 Ahmedabad-London crash on June 12, which resulted in over 260 fatalities. These back-to-back incidents have sparked fresh concerns over safety procedures, especially with another high-profile Air India cancelled flight adding to the growing unease.