NEW DELHI: In a sweeping safety response to last week’s catastrophic AI171 crash in Ahmedabad, Air India cancelled six international Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flights on Tuesday, citing a mix of technical issues, pre-flight delays, and precautionary airworthiness checks mandated by aviation regulators.
The grounded flights include:
- AI 915 (Delhi–Dubai)
- AI 153 (Delhi–Vienna)
- AI 143 (Delhi–Paris)
- AI 159 (Ahmedabad–London Gatwick)
- AI 133 (Bengaluru–London Heathrow)
- AI 170 (London–Amritsar)
All six were scheduled to be operated by the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, the same aircraft type involved in the June 12 Air India AI171 crash, which killed 241 people on board and at least 33 on the ground after the plane failed to gain altitude and crashed into a college hostel.
Delayed, Cancelled, or Diverted: Pattern Emerges
The cancellations on Tuesday follow multiple flight disruptions in recent days, as India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered heightened safety inspections of Dreamliners equipped with GEnx engines. These checks include engine fuel tests, take-off parameter reviews, and electronic engine control inspections.
AI143 Cancelled After Pre-Flight Issues, Return Flight Axed Too
In a statement, Air India said AI143 (Delhi–Paris) was cancelled after pre-flight checks revealed an unspecified issue, which would have caused a violation of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport’s night-time curfew.
As a consequence, the return leg, AI142 (Paris–Delhi), was also cancelled. But publicly available Flightradar24 data suggests a deeper problem: AI142 has been cancelled for four consecutive days — from 14 to 17 June — raising concern that Air India’s Paris route operations may be facing a prolonged disruption.
Ahmedabad–London Route Cancelled Again
Just hours earlier on Tuesday, AI159 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick was cancelled too. An airport official initially cited “operational issues.” However, the airline later clarified that the cancellation was due to aircraft unavailability, stemming from airspace restrictions and longer turnaround times triggered by additional precautionary checks.
Despite public perception, Air India insisted there was no technical snag in the aircraft assigned to AI159.
Another Close Call: Dreamliner Returns Mid-Air
Separately, AI315, a Hong Kong–Delhi Dreamliner, was forced to return mid-air after a fatal engine issue surfaced over the South China Sea. The aircraft landed safely back at Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok International Airport, averting another potential disaster.
Another Crash Averted| Air India Again
Air India Hong Kong- Delhi AI315 flight was forced to return to Chek Lap Kok airport after developing fatal mid-air engine issue.
AI 315 is also Boeing 787, the same model as Gatwick bound AI 171 that crashed on Jun 12.
Rohan Dua reports. pic.twitter.com/QT04QEm6V1
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) June 16, 2025
Meanwhile, a San Francisco–Mumbai Dreamliner developed a technical snag during a scheduled halt at Kolkata, leading to the immediate deboarding of all passengers.
Global Pattern: Lufthansa and BA Flights Also Affected
India is not alone. Dreamliners operated by Lufthansa and British Airways were also forced to return to Frankfurt and London, respectively, while en route to Hyderabad and Chennai, after experiencing technical complications.
RAT Deployment Points to Possible System Failure in AI171
The AI171 crash is now under deep forensic review, with black box data currently being analysed. Preliminary video evidence indicates deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT)—a backup power source that automatically activates only during total engine or hydraulic/electrical failure.
While this offers a clue, aviation experts caution that definitive answers could take months.
Air India Retires 171 Callsign in Respect
In a symbolic gesture, Air India has retired the AI171 callsign to honour the memory of the crash victims. Of the 242 people on board, only one—a British-Indian man seated in 11A—survived.
From the moment of the AI171 crash to today’s operational chaos, The New Indian has remained at the forefront, reporting verified updates, regulator responses, pilot communication leaks, and survivor accounts.
Executive Editor Rohan Dua continues to lead the reporting from Ahmedabad, New Delhi, and key Air India hubs, as the airline and Boeing face mounting questions over fleet reliability and passenger safety.
Air India operates 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. With cancellations now piling up, the airline—and the aviation ecosystem at large—faces an unprecedented operational stress test. Rival carrier IndiGo, which has just one Dreamliner, remains largely unaffected.
But as public trust wavers and international authorities begin independent assessments, the future of Dreamliner operations in India may well hang in the balance.
