An Air India Express flight en route from Delhi to Patna was diverted to Varanasi on Saturday, June 21, due to adverse weather conditions affecting operations in Bihar’s capital.
According to an airline spokesperson, flight IX1014 from Delhi (DEL) to Patna (PAT) had to be rerouted to Varanasi (VNS) as a safety precaution. “Due to adverse weather conditions, one of our flights to Patna was diverted briefly to Varanasi. When the weather improved, the flight resumed and landed in Patna. We regret the delay caused by circumstances beyond our control,” the spokesperson said.
The incident follows a similar disruption earlier in the week when an Air India Express flight from Delhi to Ranchi was forced to return shortly after takeoff due to a suspected technical issue. That aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max 8, was inspected and cleared before resuming its scheduled operations.
“Inconveniences caused are deeply regretted. The safety of our passengers remains our top priority,” the airline stated.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Air India also cancelled several international and domestic flights owing to heightened aircraft maintenance checks, bad weather, and airspace restrictions.
Flights impacted include:
- International: AI906 (Dubai to Chennai), AI308 (Delhi to Melbourne), AI309 (Melbourne to Delhi), AI2204 (Dubai to Hyderabad)
- Domestic: AI874 (Pune to Delhi), AI456 (Ahmedabad to Delhi), AI2872 (Hyderabad to Mumbai), AI571 (Chennai to Mumbai)
To assist affected passengers, Air India has offered full refunds or complimentary rescheduling and is actively coordinating alternate travel arrangements. “Our ground teams are working diligently to minimize disruptions. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused,” the airline said in an official statement.
