Air India flight from San Francisco to Mumbai deplaned after encountering engine issue

An Air India flight bound for Mumbai from San Francisco was delayed and forced to deplane passengers early Tuesday at the interim stop Kolkata, India, due to an engine malfunction.

The Boeing 777-200LR, operating under flight number AI-180, arrived in Kolkata at 00.45am as scheduled. However, upon landing, the crew identified an issue with the left engine.

Although the aircraft was scheduled to depart for Mumbai at 2am, the journey was postponed and passengers were requested to disembark at approximately 5.20am. 

According to the announcement made by the pilot, the decision was taken with the utmost consideration for flight safety.

The number of passengers affected remains unspecified, as does how the airline intends to assist them.

The incident comes just days after a tragedy involving another Air India flight, which crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad airport en route to London last Thursday (Jun 12). 

A total of 241 passengers and crew members on board the aircraft died, except one passenger who miraculously survived.

Separately, the airliner announced that flight AI-159 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick has been canceled on Tuesday due to the unavailability of aircraft as well as airspace restrictions.

Meanwhile, another flight AI-170 from Gatwick to Amritsar today has also been canceled, but the company did not provide any reason for the arrangement.