Air India Flight AI154 Diverted to Dubai Due to Autopilot Failure, Passengers Safe

Post by : Shivana Rahim

On October 9, 2025, Air India's flight AI154, en route from Vienna to New Delhi, was diverted to Dubai due to a suspected technical issue involving the autopilot system. The Boeing 787 aircraft, cruising at 39,000 feet, experienced a failure where the autopilot could not be reengaged despite multiple attempts by the flight crew. In response, the pilots alerted air traffic control and safely landed the aircraft in Dubai for a thorough technical inspection.

Passengers onboard were kept well informed throughout the incident and were provided refreshments during the unplanned stopover. After necessary safety checks and assessments by engineers, the aircraft was cleared for onward travel, departing Dubai at 8:45 AM IST and subsequently landing safely in New Delhi at 12:19 PM IST.

Air India emphasized that passenger and crew safety remains their highest priority and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the unforeseen delay. The airline also reassured that there was no electrical malfunction on the plane beyond the autopilot failure.

This incident follows earlier technical concerns with Air India's Boeing 787 fleet, notably on October 4, 2025, when flight AI117 deployed its Ram Air Turbine (RAT) during approach in Birmingham due to technical complications but landed safely. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) highlighted a series of recent technical malfunctions affecting critical systems such as autopilots, Instrument Landing System (ILS), flight directors, and flight control systems on the Boeing 787 aircraft operated by the airline.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation into the event, analyzing cockpit voice and flight data recorders to determine the cause of the autopilot failure and associated system degradations. Aviation experts note that such diversions are precautionary measures to ensure passenger safety and reflect the stringent safety protocols followed by airlines.

Air India continues to closely monitor its fleet's technical condition and aims to maintain the highest standards of safety and reliability in its operations.