Thu Jul 03 05:38:25 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text and its rewrite as a news article:

**Summary:**

An Air India flight from New Delhi to Washington D.C. (AI103) was canceled in Vienna due to an identified maintenance issue during a planned fuel stop. The onward Vienna-Washington leg was canceled, and passengers were disembarked. The return flight (AI104) from Washington D.C. to Delhi via Vienna was also canceled as a result. Passengers were rebooked or offered refunds. Air India cited pre-flight safety checks and external factors like airspace closures and congestion as contributing to potential flight disruptions and apologized for the inconvenience.

**News Article:**

**Air India Flights Canceled After Maintenance Issue in Vienna**

**New Delhi, July 3, 2025** – Air India flight AI103 from New Delhi to Washington D.C. was canceled yesterday, July 2nd, after a routine fuel stop in Vienna revealed a technical issue requiring extensive maintenance. The airline confirmed that the onward Vienna to Washington D.C. leg was immediately canceled, and passengers were disembarked.

The disruption cascaded, leading to the cancellation of the return flight AI104 from Washington D.C. to Delhi, also scheduled to transit through Vienna.

“During routine aircraft checks [in Vienna], an extended maintenance task was identified, which required rectification before the next flight,” an Air India spokesperson stated.

Affected passengers have been rebooked on alternative flights or offered full refunds, according to their preference. Passengers eligible for visa-free entry or those with valid Schengen visas were provided with hotel accommodations in Vienna until the next available flight.

Air India deeply regrets the inconvenience caused and remains committed to prioritising the safety of all passengers and crew.

Air India acknowledged it is facing challenges due to airspace closures, airport curfews, and air traffic congestion and had earlier announced that it would voluntarily undertake enhanced pre-flight safety checks and temporarily reduce services to uphold its commitment to safe operations, while the airline stated that it is committed to pre-flight safety checks to minimise last-minute inconvenience to passengers.

The airline, which along with Air India Express operates over 1,100 flights daily, carrying more than 150,000 passengers, emphasized that safety remains its top priority.

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