Air India mistakenly sent a Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft for the Vancouver-bound flight, even though only the Boeing 777-300ER was approved for the route.

A case of gross negligence by Air India has come to light.

DGCA Wraps Air India: A serious case of Air India's negligence has come to light, following which the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has reprimanded Air India. Air India mistakenly sent a Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft for the flight to Vancouver, whereas only the Boeing 777-300ER was approved for this route. As a result, the aircraft had to return to Delhi after flying for about 7 hours, because it was not approved for that route.

Air India's gross negligence

Immediately following the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directed Air India to take corrective action, and an airline official was also prosecuted for the negligence. This matter is serious because different aircraft are authorized for each international route based on their range, safety standards, and regulatory approvals. Therefore, sending the wrong aircraft not only violates regulations but also poses a security risk and wastes passengers' time and resources.

Such incidents raise questions about the airline's credibility. Given the DGCA's strictness, it's essential to further strengthen the flight planning and approval process to prevent such mistakes from recurring.

What is the difference?

The Boeing 777-200LR and Boeing 777-300ER are both Boeing 777 series aircraft. However, there are significant differences between them. The 777-300ER is larger and longer, allowing it to seat 350–400 passengers, while the 777-200LR is smaller, accommodating only about 250–300 passengers.

In terms of range, the 777-200LR is considered an ultra-long range aircraft and can cover longer distances, while the 777-300ER has a slightly shorter range but is considered more commercially viable due to its ability to carry more passengers.