Passengers flying from Kolkata to Hindon on Sunday experienced a major disruption after their Air India Express flight (IX 1511) was delayed by nearly seven hours due to a technical malfunction in the aircraft initially assigned for the route.

The flight, originally scheduled to take off at 7:00 am from Kolkata Airport and arrive in Hindon, Ghaziabad by 9:20 am, faced the delay after the airline discovered a fault requiring a change of aircraft.

In an official statement, a spokesperson for Air India Express confirmed, “A technical issue impacted the aircraft initially allocated for our Kolkata–Hindon service, resulting in a delayed departure.” Passengers were offered free rescheduling or a full refund as compensation for the inconvenience, the airline added.

While the airline did not disclose the specific nature of the fault, the problem had a ripple effect on the aircraft’s next planned leg—from Hindon to Goa—which was scheduled for 10:20 am, with an arrival time of 12:55 pm. Due to the earlier delay, that sector was cancelled altogether.

“Passengers booked on the Hindon–Goa flight were shifted to alternative services due to an operational issue. We also provided service recovery measures, including free rescheduling and full refunds for those who opted to cancel. We sincerely regret the disruption,” the spokesperson said in a follow-up statement.

The airline assured that it had taken steps to minimize inconvenience and manage the operational fallout effectively.

Meanwhile, Air India has alerted flyers to possible delays across its network as it begins a round of mandatory safety checks on its Boeing 787 aircraft, in compliance with directives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The inspections are being conducted on each Dreamliner as it returns to India, before the aircraft is cleared for further flights. The move follows a catastrophic crash involving an Air India-operated Ahmedabad–London flight, which resulted in at least 265 fatalities after the plane crashed into a residential building shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. One passenger survived the tragedy.

This incident marks the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 since the aircraft entered commercial service in 2011, prompting aviation authorities to demand stricter oversight and safety protocols.