Air India Cancels 7 International Flights as Dreamliner Fleet Under Safety Review.
Air India has cancelled seven international flights, including six operated by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, as precautionary inspections intensify following the deadly crash of flight AI171 on June 12 in Ahmedabad, which killed 241 of the 242 people on board.
The cancellations come amid growing regulatory scrutiny. Aviation watchdogs from India, the UK, and the US have launched a joint investigation into the crash and mandated a full technical inspection of Air India’s Dreamliner fleet.
Dreamliner Flights Grounded
The following international services were affected on June 17:
Ahmedabad–London Gatwick (AI159) and return flight Gatwick–Amritsar (AI170)
Cancelled due to aircraft unavailability tied to the fleet inspections.
Delhi–Paris (AI143) and return flight Paris–Delhi (AI142, June 18)
Scrapped under the ongoing review.
Bengaluru–London Heathrow (AI133)
Cancelled as part of the precautionary checks.
Delhi–Dubai (AI915) and Delhi–Vienna (AI153)
Additional Dreamliner flights cancelled amid operational adjustments.
Domestic and Technical Disruptions
Even non-Dreamliner services have been affected. On June 16, flight AI2493 from Mumbai to Ahmedabad was cancelled after crew exceeded duty limits, reportedly due to prior delays.
Other aircraft have experienced technical issues:
AI180 (San Francisco–Kolkata–Mumbai): A Boeing 777-200LR reported a left-engine problem during a layover in Kolkata on June 17. All passengers were safely deplaned.
AI315 (Hong Kong–Delhi): A Dreamliner returned to Hong Kong shortly after takeoff on June 16 due to a suspected fault.
Air India Express (Delhi–Ranchi): Returned to Delhi mid-air on June 16 due to a technical glitch.
Emergency Landing in Phuket
On June 14, flight AI379 from Phuket to Delhi made an emergency landing after a bomb threat was found inside the aircraft’s lavatory. All 156 passengers were safely evacuated. Thai authorities later declared the situation under control.
Air India Under Pressure
The spate of cancellations and in-flight incidents comes in the wake of the June 12 Dreamliner crash — the worst in the airline’s history. With international scrutiny intensifying and inspections underway, Air India’s operations are likely to face further disruptions in the days ahead.
Despite growing passenger inconvenience, airline officials say the precautionary grounding is a necessary step to ensure the safety of the fleet.
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