After the Ahmedabad plane crash, Air India has intensified the cancellation of its flights. On Tuesday, 17 June, the airline cancelled seven international flights, six of which were operated by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. One aircraft from this fleet had crashed on 12 June while taking off for London, killing all 241 people on board, including the crew. Following the tragic incident, Air India has tightened inspections of its aircraft.
According to a report by TOI, Air India cited operational reasons and precautionary checks behind the cancellations. The airline clarified that there were no technical issues responsible for the cancelled flights. Instead, airspace restrictions and enhanced inspections were the primary reasons.
The flights cancelled on 17 June include:
- Delhi to Dubai (AI915 – Dreamliner)
- Delhi to Vienna (AI153 – Dreamliner)
- Delhi to Paris (AI143 – Dreamliner)
- Ahmedabad to London (AI159 – Dreamliner)
- London to Amritsar (AI170 – Dreamliner)
- Bengaluru to London (AI133 – Dreamliner)
- Mumbai to San Francisco (AI179)
Also Read: Air India Plane Crash: Cockpit Voice Recorder Found, Will Help Identify Possible Causes
Air India stated that flight AI143 from Delhi to Paris was cancelled due to a problem detected during pre-flight inspection. Since Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris has restrictions on night operations, the flight could not be rescheduled.
Regarding the Mumbai to San Francisco flight, the airline said a technical fault occurred during a halt at Kolkata Airport, leading to all passengers being deboarded.
Additionally, the Ahmedabad to London Gatwick flight was cancelled because an aircraft was not available.
Following the Ahmedabad crash, India’s aviation regulator DGCA ordered Air India to conduct additional checks on its aircraft. Air India primarily uses the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner fleet for its UK and European routes, and there have been previous concerns about technical issues with this fleet.