Air India in Turbulence: 7 International Flights Cancelled Amid Safety Concerns and Technical Snags, DGCA Calls Emergency Meet

New Delhi: In a fresh wave of disruptions, seven international flights operated by Air India were cancelled on Tuesday, triggering concerns among flyers and prompting regulatory scrutiny. The cancellations were attributed to technical glitches, aircraft unavailability, and pre-flight safety checks, especially involving the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner fleet—the same aircraft type involved in the tragic Ahmedabad crash that claimed over 270 lives on June 12.

Among the cancelled flights were:

• AI915 (Delhi to Dubai – B787-8 Dreamliner)
• AI153 (Delhi to Vienna – B787-8 Dreamliner)
• AI143 (Delhi to Paris – B787-8 Dreamliner)
• AI159 (Ahmedabad to London – B787-8 Dreamliner)
• AI170 (London to Amritsar – B787-8 Dreamliner)
• AI133 (Bengaluru to London – B787-8 Dreamliner)
• AI179 (Mumbai to San Francisco – Boeing 777)

The AI159 flight was the first scheduled operation from Ahmedabad to London since the crash and was renamed (previously AI171) as a mark of respect and protocol shift. However, it never took off due to aircraft unavailability.

The Delhi to Paris flight was grounded after a technical issue surfaced during pre-flight checks, leading to an immediate cancellation for safety reasons. In another incident, AI180 from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata, a Boeing 777-200LR, experienced a snag in its left engine, forcing an emergency deboarding at Kolkata in the early hours of Tuesday.

Air India issued a statement saying: “We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers and are making alternate arrangements. Hotel accommodation and full refunds or complimentary rescheduling are being provided.”

Reports from India Today indicate that since the Ahmedabad crash, Air India has intensified checks on its Dreamliner fleet, which has strained operational capacity and led to cascading flight disruptions.

Meanwhile, the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) has stepped in and scheduled an urgent meeting with Air India and Air India Express officials. While the agenda has not been disclosed, it is widely expected to address safety protocols, Dreamliner performance, and the rising number of flight disruptions.