Delhi-Hong Kong Air India Boeing 787 Door Shakes Mid-Flight; Cabin Crew Stuff Napkins To Muffle Noise

Passengers on an Air India flight from Delhi to Hong Kong experienced a mid-air fright on 1 June, when a door on the Boeing 787 began to shake and emit hissing and growling sounds around an hour after take-off.

Cabin crew responded by stuffing paper napkins into a narrow gap at the top of the door and pushing it in an attempt to reduce the noise and movement.

Photo Credit: x.com/airindia

Despite the alarming situation, the flight continued as scheduled and landed safely in Hong Kong, according to a report by The Times of India.

This incident is not the first of its kind involving a Boeing 787. At least three similar cases have previously been reported-first in 2019 with Japan Airlines, and later in 2022 involving Germany's TUI Airlines and American Airlines.

In all three situations, the flights were diverted back to their points of departure due to the issue.

The safety of the Boeing 787 aircraft has come under renewed scrutiny following the 12 June crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 275 lives. However, the incident on the Delhi-Hong Kong flight occurred prior to that tragedy.

Although such occurrences may seem unnerving to passengers, pilots have stressed that a hissing door does not pose a significant risk to flight safety, and aircraft doors cannot open during flight.

The incident took place on flight AI-314, which departed Delhi at 11:45 pm-over an hour later than scheduled.

"About an hour after take-off, the door started shaking and making noises. It seemed the door seal came off due to air pressure," read a recent social media post, quoting a passenger.

Air India's Response on Boeing Aircraft Maintenance

Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson stated on Thursday that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner involved in the Ahmedabad crash was "well-maintained," having undergone its last major check in June 2023, with the next due in December 2025.

In a message to passengers, Wilson explained that the recent 15 per cent reduction in Air India's widebody fleet operations was only a temporary measure.

"The plane was well-maintained, with its last major check in June 2023 and the next scheduled for December 2025. Its right engine was overhauled in March 2025, and the left engine was inspected in April 2025. Both the aircraft and engines were regularly monitored, showing no issues before the flight," he said.

Following the crash and in accordance with directives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Air India has undertaken detailed safety inspections of its fleet of 33 Boeing 787 aircraft.

So far, 26 of the aircraft have been inspected and cleared for service. The remaining planes are undergoing routine maintenance and will be subject to the same inspections before being returned to service.

"Following the review, the DGCA has confirmed that Air India's Boeing 787 fleet and maintenance procedures fully meet safety standards," Wilson added.

While the DGCA did flag certain maintenance-related issues within Air India and urged the airline to strengthen coordination across departments, it also stated that its surveillance of the Boeing 787 fleet had not uncovered any major safety issues following last week's fatal crash in Ahmedabad.

On 13 June, a day after the accident, the DGCA ordered enhanced monitoring of Air India's Boeing 787 fleet, which includes 26 787-8s and seven 787-9s.