Air India Cancels Several Flights Including Routes To London, Paris, Vienna Amid Crash Probe

Air India is in the news not only for the devastating crash that happened on June 12 but also for major flight cancellations involving Boeing aircraft as the crash investigation continues. The airline is cancelling flights on several international routes. Read on to know more.

Air India Cancels Multiple International Flights

As per a report in The Guardian, Air India has cancelled eight international flights amidst the ongoing crash inquiries. These flights involved Boeing Dreamliner aircraft operating on international routes to London, Paris, Vienna, and Dubai. It’s the same aircraft model that was involved in the tragic June 12 crash. The airline stated several reasons for the cancellations on Tuesday, including aircraft unavailability, technical snags, airspace restrictions, and safety checks. According to the report, at least three Dreamliner flights have been grounded or delayed in the past 48 hours.

Not just that, according to The News Mill, Air India also cancelled its London-bound flight from Bengaluru, again citing unavailability of the aircraft. These cancellations are occurring while government-mandated inspections for the Boeing 787 fleet are underway. According to the report, the Bengaluru to London flight was a scheduled cancellation, and all passengers were notified in advance. Air India has offered options like full refunds, free cancellations, and flight rebooking to all passengers to minimise inconvenience.

Also Read: Why Did The Delhi-Bound Air India Flight Return To Hong Kong Mid-Air? Here Is What The Pilot Told ATC

In addition, another flight from Ahmedabad to Gatwick in London was cancelled on Tuesday due to airspace restrictions and precautionary safety checks. However, the airline denied any technical issues in these flights.

DGCA Confirms 66 Boeing Flights Cancelled Since Crash

According to a report in Hindustan Times, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday said that Air India has cancelled 66 flights operated by Boeing 787 aircraft since the June 12 Ahmedabad crash. The model involved in these cancellations is the same as the one in the fatal crash. DGCA’s statement also stated that recent safety checks on Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet have not revealed any major concerns. The maintenance systems were found to be compliant with current safety standards.

Also Read: Passengers On San Francisco-Mumbai Air India Flight Deplaned In Kolkata Due To Technical Glitch In Engine

These cancellations come after the aviation regulator reviewed Air India and Air India Express’s flight operations following the tragic crash. The incident occurred when a London-bound flight crashed moments after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The crash killed 241 of the 242 people on board, along with many people on the ground.

Most of these flight cancellations are linked to the airline’s enhanced safety checks on the aircraft involved in the crash.

Cover Image Courtesy: Air India/ Instagram