The Air India plane, a Boeing 777-200ER, operating as flight (AI-126), had arrived at IGI airport here from Hyderabad last evening and was to operate as flight number AI-127 to Chicago.
It was scheduled to depart at 2 AM but finally took off for Chicago at around 2030 hours, after a delay of more than 18 hours.
"The flight could not depart on its scheduled time due to a technical glitch. And by the time the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was made airworthy, the rest and duty time restrictions of the crew came into force, leading to further delay," an Air India official said.
All the passengers, during this period, were provided with hotel and other facilities which are mandated under the DGCA guidelines for such situations, he said.