Passengers on an Air India flight bound for Hong Kong were left alarmed when a door on the Boeing 787 began vibrating and emitting strange noises shortly after departure from Delhi. The unsettling event unfolded about an hour into the flight, causing significant distress among those onboard. Flight attendants responded quickly by wedging paper napkins into the gap at the top of the door in an attempt to muffle the rattling sounds and minimise the movement of the door.
Despite the dramatic scene, the flight, operating as AI-314, continued to Hong Kong without diverting. The plane departed Delhi’s airport at 11:45 pm, slightly behind schedule, and landed safely. According to social media posts from passengers, the door appeared to have lost its airtight seal due to cabin pressure changes, causing the abnormal noises.
Boeing 787 Door Issues: Not A First
This incident is not unprecedented for Boeing 787 aircraft. Since 2019, at least three similar cases involving noisy doors have been reported, including events with Japan Airlines, German carrier TUI Airlines, and American Airlines. However, unlike the Air India case where the flight carried on, all three previous flights were forced to return to their departure airports as a precautionary measure.
Experts have noted that although such incidents can be frightening, doors on commercial airliners are designed not to open during flight due to the immense pressure difference between the cabin and the outside atmosphere. The noises and vibrations, while unsettling, pose no immediate danger to flight safety, according to experienced pilots and aviation engineers.
Air India’s Assurance On Maintenance Standards
The recent incident comes on the heels of heightened scrutiny of Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet, following a tragic Boeing 787-8 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 that claimed 275 lives. Air India’s CEO, Campbell Wilson, assured passengers that the aircraft involved in the door incident was “well-maintained,” highlighting that its most recent major maintenance check occurred in June 2023, with the next scheduled for December 2025. Additionally, the engines underwent thorough inspections earlier this year.
Wilson revealed that in response to directives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) following the Ahmedabad crash, Air India began comprehensive safety checks across its entire fleet of 33 Boeing 787s. Of these, 26 aircraft have already passed inspections and been cleared for continued service, with the remainder undergoing planned maintenance and checks.
DGCA: No Major Safety Lapses Detected
In a statement, the DGCA confirmed that the enhanced surveillance of Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet did not uncover any significant safety issues. The agency did, however, call on Air India to improve internal coordination between departments after noting recent maintenance-related lapses. The aviation regulator reassured the public that Air India’s maintenance processes for its 787s are in line with established safety standards.
The aviation sector has been under intense scrutiny globally after multiple incidents involving Boeing aircraft. Aviation safety experts have emphasised the importance of rigorous inspections and proactive maintenance to restore confidence among travellers. Passengers, meanwhile, are reminded that while unusual, door noise incidents do not compromise flight integrity and should not be cause for panic.
As aviation safety continues to be a high-CPM topic attracting significant interest among readers, incidents like this highlight the need for airlines to maintain transparency and communicate effectively with the flying public.