Air India's CEO vowed on Wednesday to improve internal practices after a plane crash in June killed 260 people, in his first public comments about the accident that he said would contribute to a "challenging" year for the airline.

India used the air base at Ayni in Tajikistan during a 2001 evacuation operation after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan.

Air India ferried 228 passengers who were stranded in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar to Delhi on Wednesday morning.

Air India is seeking at least 100 billion rupees ($1.14 billion) in financial support from owners Singapore Airlines and Tata Sons, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Air India San Francisco-Delhi flight also made a precautionary landing at Ulaanbataatar in Mongolia after the flight crew suspected a technical issue en route