Air India Flight AI 103 Technical Halt in Vienna and Flight Cancellation

Date of Incident: July 2, 2025
Flight Number: AI 103
Route: New Delhi (DEL) – Vienna (VIE) – Washington D.C. (IAD)
Aircraft Type: Boeing 777
Operator: Air India

On July 2, 2025, Air India flight AI 103, operating a scheduled long-haul service from New Delhi to Washington D.C. with a planned technical stop in Vienna, was unexpectedly grounded in Austria due to a technical malfunction identified during routine post-landing checks. The continuation of the flight to Washington was subsequently cancelled, and passengers were disembarked and accommodated. The return leg, flight AI 104 from Washington to New Delhi, was also cancelled.

Background and Flight Plan

Flight AI 103 was being operated by a Boeing 777 configured for long-haul travel. Due to ongoing airspace restrictions over parts of Pakistan, the flight was scheduled to make a planned stop in Vienna for refueling, crew rotation, and rest, thereby ensuring compliance with international duty time regulations.

The flight from New Delhi to Vienna proceeded uneventfully. Upon arrival at Vienna International Airport (VIE), routine maintenance inspections were conducted prior to onward departure to Washington D.C.

Incident Summary

During the scheduled stopover, Air India’s engineering and technical staff identified an “extended maintenance task” requiring more time than initially available. According to official sources and Air India statements, the nature of the fault necessitated immediate attention and made it operationally and technically unfeasible for the aircraft to proceed to its final destination.

Key actions taken:

The flight’s onward leg to Washington D.C. (AI 103 continuation) was cancelled.
The return leg (AI 104: Washington → Vienna → New Delhi) was also cancelled due to aircraft unavailability.
Passengers were disembarked in Vienna and provided accommodations and alternative arrangements.

Passenger Impact

Passengers faced significant inconvenience, with reports suggesting long waiting times and limited communication from airline staff during the initial disruption. Travelers posted accounts on social media indicating that many were uncertain about the next steps for nearly 12 hours post-cancellation.

Several passengers lacking a valid Schengen visa were required to wait at the airport until immigration clearance and accommodations could be arranged. According to airline sources:

Passengers with Schengen access were accommodated in local hotels.
Those without visas were assisted through Austrian immigration and provided alternative facilities at the airport.
Most affected passengers were rebooked on alternative routes—mainly via Emirates and other Star Alliance carriers.

Technical Fault: What Is Known

The airline cited an “extended maintenance task” as the cause of the cancellation. While the exact nature of the fault has not been publicly disclosed, aviation analysts believe it could involve one of the following:

Faults in the aircraft’s avionics or flight management systems
Hydraulic or pressurization anomalies
Unusual engine or fuel system alerts detected post-landing

In the context of recent heightened scrutiny over Air India’s long-haul fleet, especially following the Ahmedabad crash (AI 171) in June 2025, the airline has implemented a policy of stricter pre-departure checks on its widebody aircraft.

Wider Operational Context

The AI 103 incident occurred amid increased regulatory and public scrutiny of Air India’s international operations:

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI 171 (Ahmedabad to London) suffered a fatal crash, prompting a full safety audit of the airline’s widebody fleet.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) imposed restrictions on long-haul operations and mandated enhanced inspections.
Air India subsequently reduced international widebody operations by 15% to accommodate the safety overhaul and crew rest mandates.

In this environment, the decision to halt AI 103’s onward journey in Vienna appears to be a precautionary one, prioritizing passenger safety.

Airline Statement and Response

Air India issued a formal statement noting the technical reason for cancellation and assuring full passenger support. A spokesperson confirmed that passengers were rebooked or offered full refunds, and arrangements were made in compliance with European Union travel regulations.

However, multiple independent accounts from passengers indicate inconsistencies in the ground response and delays in re-accommodation efforts.