Following the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, near Ahmedabad airport on June 12, 2025, Air India has cancelled at least three international flights as it undertakes precautionary checks on its Dreamliner fleet. The cancellations are a knock-on effect of the increased safety measures and airspace restrictions implemented in the wake of the disaster that claimed over 270 lives.
The cancelled flights include AI 159 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, AI 143 from Delhi to Paris, and the return service AI 142 from Paris to Delhi. The Ahmedabad-London flight was scheduled to depart on Tuesday, June 17, but was grounded due to "unavailability of the aircraft, resulting from airspace restrictions and additional precautionary checks, leading to longer than usual turnaround of aircraft." The airline has refuted claims that the cancellation was due to a technical snag.
The Delhi-Paris flight, AI 143, was cancelled after "mandatory pre-flight checks identified an issue." Consequently, the return flight from Paris to Delhi, AI 142, scheduled for Wednesday, was also cancelled. Air India stated that the issue flagged during the pre-flight checks is being addressed but the delay meant that AI 143 would run afoul of restrictions on night-time operations at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport.
These cancellations have left passengers stranded and disrupted travel plans. Air India has stated that it is making alternative arrangements to fly affected passengers to their destinations, offering hotel accommodations, full refunds on cancellations, and complimentary rescheduling. The subsequent flight AI170 from London to Amritsar was also cancelled due to the initial AI 159 cancellation.
The cancellations and inspections follow the crash of Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, which crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12. The aircraft crashed into the hostel block of B. J. Medical College in Ahmedabad, killing 241 people on board and at least 29 on the ground. A mayday call was sent by the flight captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, seconds after the London-bound plane left the runway. One passenger, a British national, survived the crash.
In the aftermath of the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered Air India to conduct additional safety checks on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. These checks include assessments of take-off parameters and engine controls. Of the 34 Dreamliner aircraft that Air India operates, 22 have already undergone enhanced checks. While no significant faults were found during these checks, the inspections and airspace closures have led to several flight cancellations and delays.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the investigation into the crash, with assistance from teams from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the U.K. Both the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder have been recovered from the crash site. The investigation aims to determine the root cause of the crash, considering factors such as mechanical failure, human error, and regulatory compliance. The high-level multi-disciplinary committee formed by the Centre to investigate the crash will submit its findings within three months.
The accident has triggered widespread flight disruptions, with airspace closures in Iran and Jordan adding to the delays. Dubai's air traffic control is also facing unprecedented congestion. Another Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had to return to Hong Kong mid-flight due to a suspected technical issue, further compounding the airline's operational challenges.
