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Air India Diverts Two UK-Bound Flights as Snow Disrupts Heathrow and Birmingham

An airline spokesperson attributed the diversions to low visibility and said priority procedures were followed.

Overview

  • Air India said flight AI131 from Mumbai to London Heathrow diverted to London Gatwick after holding over Heathrow and landed safely, with passengers receiving assistance.
  • The airline confirmed flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham could not land due to adverse weather and diverted to London with a request for priority handling.
  • Flight-tracking outlets reported that AI117 issued a Squawk 7700 general emergency after declaring minimum fuel before diverting, details not stated in the airline's account.
  • Heavy snowfall and poor visibility affected operations at both Heathrow and Birmingham, leading to extended holding and abandoned approaches.
  • Airlive reported emergency services were positioned as a precaution for the Heathrow arrival, and officials noted a similar weather-related disruption earlier in the week involving an Air India Express flight returning to Delhi.