Several international Air India flights, primarily operated by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, were cancelled on Tuesday, just days after a London-bound Dreamliner tragically crashed into a hostel complex shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on June 12. The accident claimed the lives of all 241 passengers and crew on board.
Ahmedabad to Gatwick Flight Cancelled
Air India confirmed that its scheduled flight from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, London, was cancelled due to aircraft unavailability, attributed to airspace restrictions and precautionary inspections. The airline dismissed reports suggesting a technical malfunction was behind the cancellation.
To mitigate passenger inconvenience, Air India stated that alternate travel arrangements have been made. The airline is providing hotel accommodations and offering full refunds or free rescheduling options for affected passengers.
Delhi-Paris Flight AI143 Also Cancelled
The Paris-bound AI143 flight from Delhi was also grounded on Tuesday following an issue discovered during pre-flight checks. According to an Air India spokesperson, the cancellation was partly due to operational restrictions at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport related to night flights.
The return flight, AI142 from Paris to Delhi, scheduled for June 17, has also been cancelled, according to ANI.
Passengers impacted by these cancellations are being offered hotel stays and the choice of full refunds or complimentary rescheduling.
San Francisco-Mumbai Flight Grounded in Kolkata
In a separate incident, Air India’s San Francisco–Mumbai flight, which included a stopover in Kolkata, was grounded due to a suspected technical issue found during post-landing inspection. All 228 individuals on board, including 211 passengers, were safely deplaned, and some were accommodated at local hotels.
The flight was originally scheduled to depart Kolkata for Mumbai at 2 a.m. on Tuesday. Air India has been rerouting this service through Kolkata due to ongoing geopolitical disruptions, including the closure of Pakistani airspace.
Flight AI180 landed in Kolkata at 12:45 a.m., close to schedule despite a one-hour delay in departure from San Francisco.
IndiGo Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Nagpur
Earlier the same day, IndiGo flight 6E 2706, en route from Muscat to Delhi via Kochi, made an emergency landing in Nagpur after a bomb threat was reported. According to DCP Lohit Matani, all passengers were safely evacuated. Initial investigations have not uncovered any suspicious items.
