An Air India flight bound for Newark, United States, returned to Mumbai soon after take-off early on Wednesday, October 22, following a suspected technical problem, according to a statement issued by the airline. The airline confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and is undergoing inspection.

Air India said the crew of flight AI191, operating on the Mumbai–Newark route, decided to return as a precaution after identifying a possible technical snag mid-air. The flight landed safely at Mumbai airport without incident.

“The crew of flight AI191 operating from Mumbai to Newark on October 22 made a precautionary air-return to Mumbai due to a suspected technical issue. The flight landed safely back in Mumbai, and the aircraft is undergoing necessary inspections,” the airline said.

The number of passengers on board and the exact duration of the turnaround were not immediately disclosed. As per the airline’s usual schedule, AI191 departs Mumbai at 1.10 am (IST) and reaches Newark at 7.55 am (EDT).

The precautionary landing led to the cancellation of the corresponding return flight from Newark, AI144, scheduled later on Wednesday. Passengers were informed and offered alternative arrangements, including rescheduling or refunds.

This is the second incident in recent days involving an Air India aircraft facing technical issues, raising fresh questions about the airline’s maintenance and fleet reliability.

Last Friday, a Delhi-bound Air India flight from Milan was grounded after a technical snag upon landing, leaving more than 250 passengers stranded at the Italian airport during the festive period. The affected aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner (VT-ANN), was unable to operate the return leg to Delhi.

To bring passengers back, Air India deployed an additional flight from Milan to Delhi on October 19. The airline said it provided hotel stays, meals, and the option of full refunds or complimentary rescheduling to all affected travellers.

A similar problem was reported on August 16, when the same Mumbai–Newark route was cancelled after a maintenance task was identified during pushback. The delay caused the operating crew to exceed their mandatory flight duty time limits, forcing the cancellation.

Air India, now owned by the Tata Group, said passenger safety remains its top priority and that every technical issue is handled with “utmost diligence”. The airline is in the process of upgrading its fleet and expanding maintenance infrastructure as part of its long-term transformation plan.

Despite ongoing efforts, repeated technical disruptions have drawn attention to the operational challenges faced by the national carrier as it works to restore reliability across its international network.