New Delhi, India: Air India announced on Tuesday that it would operate a relief flight to bring back 228 passengers stranded in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, after their San Francisco–Delhi flight was unexpectedly diverted due to a technical issue. The stranded passengers, along with the airline’s crew, will be flown back to India on Wednesday morning via the relief operation.

The affected flight, AI174, had departed from San Francisco on November 2, 2025, en route to Delhi with a scheduled stopover in Kolkata. On the way, the flight crew identified a potential technical issue and made the precautionary decision to land at Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. The aircraft involved in the diversion was a Boeing 777, and the landing was executed safely without any incidents.

A total of 245 individuals were on board the flight, including 228 passengers and 17 crew members. Following the diversion, the airline, in coordination with local authorities and the Indian Embassy in Mongolia, ensured that all passengers and crew were accommodated safely in hotels and provided with the necessary care while arrangements for their return were made.

In an official statement, Air India said, “Air India will be operating a relief flight to ferry the passengers of flight AI174, which was diverted to Ulaanbaatar on Monday. The ferry flight, AI183, is scheduled to depart Delhi this afternoon and return with the affected passengers on Wednesday morning.” The relief flight will be operated using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

The airline emphasized that the safety of passengers is its top priority and that the decision to divert the flight was made purely as a precautionary measure. “The precautionary landing ensured that all passengers and crew remained safe, and the airline has been actively coordinating with the local authorities and the Indian Embassy to provide hotel accommodations and other essential support,” the statement added.

The incident highlights Air India’s contingency protocols for dealing with in-flight technical issues. By operating the relief flight promptly, the airline is demonstrating its commitment to passenger welfare and operational efficiency, ensuring that passengers experience minimal disruption to their travel plans.

Flight diversions due to technical concerns are relatively rare but are considered a standard safety protocol in civil aviation. Airlines prioritize such actions to prevent potential in-flight emergencies and to ensure the safety of both passengers and crew. In this instance, the timely diversion and subsequent arrangements by Air India prevented any escalation of the situation and ensured that passengers were kept comfortable while awaiting repatriation.

With the relief flight AI183 set to depart Delhi on Tuesday afternoon, all 228 stranded passengers are expected to arrive safely in India on Wednesday morning, completing the journey that was unexpectedly interrupted by the diversion.

The airline’s handling of the situation has also been coordinated with the Tata Group, which owns Air India, ensuring that necessary resources and operational support were in place for a smooth turnaround of the relief flight.

Passengers traveling from international destinations are advised to remain aware of operational updates from the airline, especially in cases of unforeseen technical issues, as Air India and other carriers continue to prioritize safety above all else.