New York-Delhi Air India passengers feel vibrations and noise below their seats; flight diverted to Ireland

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• Air India flight diverted to Shannon due to cabin vibrations
• All 300 passengers safely transferred to hotels after landing
• Technical checks underway; timeline for departure unclear

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An Air India flight travelling from New York to New Delhi was forced to make a precautionary diversion to Shannon in Ireland after passengers reported unusual vibrations inside the aircraft during the journey.

The aircraft, an Airbus A350 operating as AI102, was carrying around 300 people when the issue was reported. According to airline sources, passengers seated in rows 32 and 33 noticed vibrations on the cabin floor along with sounds coming from below their seats while the aircraft was flying over the Atlantic.

The disturbance woke several passengers who were resting during the flight. They alerted the cabin crew after feeling repeated tremors beneath their feet, which caused concern among those seated nearby.

At the time, the aircraft was flying close to the Irish coastline. After being informed about the situation, the pilots decided to divert the flight and land at Shannon as a precautionary measure.

The aircraft, registered as VT-JRF, had departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport at 6.39 pm local time. After flying for nearly six hours, it landed safely in Shannon at 4.31 am local time.

Following the diversion, airline officials began coordinating arrangements for the passengers. One of the main logistical challenges in such long-haul diversions is managing visas and immigration procedures so that travellers can leave the airport and be accommodated in hotels.

Airline sources said the carrier arranged the necessary permissions and all passengers were transferred to hotels after arrival.

Air India also sent engineers and technical material from Delhi to examine the aircraft.

An Air India spokesperson said: “Flight AI102, operating from New York (JFK) to Delhi on March 15, made a precautionary diversion to Shannon, Ireland, following a suspected technical issue. Consistent with AI’s high safety standards, the aircraft is currently subject to extensive technical evaluations, which will require extra time to complete. During this period, our airport partners have been working closely with Shannon Airport authorities to extend full support to our guests and crew. Meals and refreshments were provided, and assistance was arranged to help passengers complete immigration and customs procedures. Hotel accommodation has also been offered to all affected guests.”

“We deeply regret the inconvenience caused to our guests due to this unforeseen situation. Air India is making every effort to ensure passengers are able to continue their journey to Delhi at the earliest. At Air India, the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain our top priority,” the spokesperson added.

The timeline for when the passengers eventually departed Shannon for Delhi remained unclear.