On Jan 14th 2026, an Air India Boeing 787-9 operating an international service to Singapore was forced to turn back shortly after reaching cruise altitude, after the crew received an APU fire indication that prompted an immediate precautionary response.
The aircraft, registered VT-TSE, was performing flight AI-2380 from Delhi to Singapore with about 190 people on board. After departure from Delhi, the Dreamliner climbed normally and had just levelled off at FL330 when the cockpit crew received the warning. Following standard safety procedures, the decision was made to abandon the onward flight and return to the departure airport as a precaution.
The Boeing 787-9 landed safely on Delhi’s runway 28 about 45 minutes after leaving cruise altitude. There were no injuries, and the landing was uneventful, but the aircraft was removed from service for inspection to determine the source of the indication.
Air India later confirmed the flight had returned due to a suspected technical issue and arranged a replacement aircraft for passengers. A substitute Boeing 787-9, registered VT-TSD, eventually departed Delhi and reached Singapore with a delay of about five hours.
After maintenance checks were completed, the occurrence aircraft returned to service approximately 39 hours after landing, bringing the incident to a close. The event highlights the cautious approach crews take when fire-related warnings appear, even when no visible signs of fire are present, ensuring passenger safety remains the top priority.
