SAN FRANCISCO— An Air India (AI) flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) via Kolkata (CCU) was delayed over eight hours due to a malfunctioning door in the Business Class section of the aircraft.
Flight AI 176, operated using a leased Boeing 777, eventually departed at 5:45 am on July 22, with Business and Premium Economy cabins sealed off and passengers reassigned to Economy Class.
Photo: Utkarsh Thakkar (Vimanspotter)Air India San Francisco to Bengaluru Flight
The July 21 departure of Air India flight AI176 was scheduled to leave San Francisco (SFO) for Bengaluru (BLR) at 9:00 pm local time.
However, due to a fault in one of the doors near the Business Class area, the aircraft was grounded for over eight hours. Initially, passengers were informed of delays due to “extended cleaning,” with no clear updates for several hours.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that the Business and Premium Economy sections were eventually taped off and made inaccessible. Passengers observed the aircraft door being declared inoperative shortly before boarding commenced.
According to protocol, these seats could not be used during the flight, and several Business Class passengers were either downgraded or denied boarding altogether.
Five premium passengers declined to travel in Economy and were offered full refunds or alternative travel arrangements. Meanwhile, 25 others were reassigned to Economy Class, despite paying significantly higher fares, TNIE reported.
Further, as per FlightRadar24 reports, Air India has cancelled two consecutive flights between Delhi and San Francisco on July 25 and 27, 2025.
Photo: Utkarsh Thakkar (Vimanspotter)Confusion, Missed Connections, and Discomfort
Several passengers reported distress over inadequate communication during the extended delay. The affected flight included many elderly travelers, some wheelchair-bound, as well as families with young children.
The lack of timely information reportedly led to anxiety, especially amid heightened safety concerns in Indian aviation following recent incidents.
One passenger, Sangeetha Krishnan (name changed), shared that the flight was originally scheduled for July 21 at 9:00 pm but was successively pushed to 11:00 pm, midnight, and finally took off at 5:45 am on July 22. The lack of clarity and amenities during the wait added to passenger discomfort.
The delay caused multiple missed connections for domestic onward journeys from Bengaluru. Some passengers, including a senior couple headed to Sivakasi, had to make last-minute ground transport arrangements after missing connecting flights to Madurai (IXM), Chennai (MAA), and Coimbatore (CJB).
Photo: Ian Abbott | FlickrOfficial Statement
The aircraft in question was a Boeing 777 leased from Delta Air Lines (DL), configured with approximately 50 Business and Premium Economy seats and 270 Economy seats. Due to a technical door fault, a portion of the aircraft remained non-operational during the flight.
In its official statement, Air India (AI) confirmed the technical issue with the door and emphasized that the fault could not be rectified on the ground within the required window.
The airline reassured that all actions were taken in compliance with safety protocols and offered alternatives to affected passengers.
The airline also noted that the aircraft made a scheduled technical stop at Kolkata (CCU) for refuelling, citing ongoing airspace closures over Pakistan and parts of the Middle East as the reason.
Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh TekriwalBackground of the Route
The San Francisco (SFO) to Bengaluru (BLR) route, launched in January 2021, was celebrated for its historic inaugural flight operated by an all-women cockpit crew.
It quickly became a preferred route for the Indian diaspora in California, particularly during peak travel seasons.
Operations on this route had only recently resumed after a temporary suspension prompted by DGCA-mandated inspections of all Boeing aircraft, following a separate safety-related incident at Ahmedabad Airport (AMD).
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