New Delhi, October 20:
Air India has launched a special flight from Milan to Delhi on Sunday to rescue more than 250 stranded passengers who were left waiting after their scheduled flight was cancelled on Friday due to a technical fault in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
The original flight, AI138, was grounded on October 17 at Milan’s Malpensa Airport following a technical issue, causing significant inconvenience to passengers—many of whom were returning home for Diwali celebrations. Social media platforms were flooded with complaints highlighting poor communication and inadequate facilities provided to stranded travellers.
In an official statement released on Sunday, Air India confirmed that it would operate an additional commercial flight, AI138D, departing Milan at 7:00 PM local time and arriving in Delhi early on October 20.
“To ensure passengers can return to India in time for the festive season, our engineering and operations teams worked round-the-clock to rectify the aircraft issue in Milan and secured regulatory clearances to operate this special flight,” the airline said.
The airline also stated that its customer service teams are personally contacting all affected passengers, many of whom were earlier rebooked on alternative flights scheduled after Diwali. These travellers have now been given the option to switch to the newly arranged flight or continue with their existing bookings.
Earlier, in a statement issued on Saturday, Air India said passengers had been rebooked on other flights on or after October 20, depending on seat availability across Air India and partner airlines. The airline also cited special arrangements for passengers with visa constraints.
“One passenger whose Schengen visa was expiring on October 20 was rebooked on another airline’s flight on October 19 to ensure compliance with visa validity,” the statement added.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, used for long-haul international routes, was undergoing technical repairs in Milan before approvals were granted for the special return flight.
With this proactive move, Air India aims to ensure that all stranded passengers reach home in time for Diwali, reaffirming its commitment to passenger safety and service reliability. The airline has also expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and thanked passengers for their patience.
