Key points
- DGCA finds no major safety issues in review
- Multiple international routes disrupted over technical concerns
- June 12 crash kills 274; AI 171 retired
ISLAMABAD: India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), confirmed that Air India has cancelled 66 flights operated by Boeing 787 aircraft following the deadly June 12 crash in Ahmedabad involving the same model.
A review of Air India and Air India Express operations found no major safety violations, with the Boeing 787 fleet deemed compliant with existing standards. However, the DGCA highlighted recent lapses in maintenance and urged improved coordination between departments to enhance safety compliance.
Air India operates 33 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft. According to The New Indian Express, several international flights have been grounded since the crash, including services from Delhi to Dubai, Vienna, and Paris; Ahmedabad to London; Bengaluru to London; and London to Amritsar.
Operational constraints
The airline cited operational constraints and additional safety checks for the disruptions. Affected passengers were offered refunds, rescheduling, or hotel stays.
Compounding issues, flight AI 315 from Hong Kong to Delhi turned back mid-air due to a technical fault, and AI 180 from San Francisco to Mumbai was grounded in Kolkata during a scheduled stopover. All passengers were safely deboarded.
Delhi–Paris service (AI 143) was cancelled after technical concerns and due to night-time restrictions at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The return flight (AI 142) was also scrapped.
Air India Spokesperson says, “Flight AI143 from Delhi to Paris of 17 June has been cancelled. The mandatory pre-flight checks identified an issue which is being presently addressed. However, in view of the flight coming under the restrictions on night operations at Paris Charles…
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2025
Emergency landing
Ahmedabad–Gatwick services were halted due to aircraft unavailability linked to airspace restrictions and precautionary checks, not a technical fault, the airline said.
Source: The New Indian Express
Separately, IndiGo flight 6E 2706 made an emergency landing in Nagpur after a bomb threat, which later proved false.
The June 12 crash of flight AI 171 killed 241 of 242 onboard, plus 33 on the ground. A single British-Indian man survived. The airline has since retired the AI 171 callsign.
