Air India Flight AI315: Boeing 787 Diverts Back to Hong Kong Due to Technical Issue

A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Air India, operating as flight AI315, was compelled to return to Hong Kong International Airport this morning after the pilot detected a possible technical issue while flying over the South China Sea. The plane had taken off earlier in the day and was noted to have entered a holding pattern before it made a safe landing.

This occurrence comes shortly after the tragic crash of another Air India 787-8 in Ahmedabad on June 12, which resulted in the loss of 270 lives. Following this incident, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandated thorough safety inspections for all Dreamliner models in the country, including the 787-8 and 787-9, beginning at midnight on June 15.

Initial reports indicate that the AI315 crew adhered to international aviation safety protocols by deciding to return rather than risk continuing with a system that might be faulty. Although the specific fault has yet to be identified, the airline has confirmed the incident and is fully cooperating with local aviation authorities.

Today's event is likely to heighten the scrutiny on Boeing's 787 series, especially given ongoing concerns about quality control. In 2021, Boeing engineer and whistleblower Sam Salehpour claimed that certain defective structural components in some aircraft had not been addressed, which has raised questions about the long-term integrity of the airframes.

While no injuries were reported on flight AI315 and the aircraft landed without any additional issues, the incident has dented passenger confidence in the 787 fleet. Air India has yet to announce if further aircraft will be grounded for inspection, though internal safety assessments are currently underway.