Ahmedabad: Days after India’s deadliest aviation disaster in over three decades, another London-bound Air India flight from Ahmedabad was cancelled on Tuesday, June 17. Early reports claimed that the decision was taken due to a technical snag.
However, the airline later issued a statement clarifying, that aircraft AI159 was unavailable as it was undergoing additional precautionary checks. The flight had arrived from New Delhi and was scheduled to take off for Heathrow, as per reports.
Air India Issues Statement
"Flight AI159 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick has been cancelled today due to the unavailability of the aircraft, resulting from airspace restrictions and additional precautionary checks, leading to longer than usual turnaround of aircraft, and not due to any technical snag as claimed," an Air India spokesperson told FPJ.
"We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers and have made alternative arrangements to fly them to their destination. We are providing hotel accommodation and also offering full refunds on cancellations or complimentary rescheduling if opted by the passengers. Consequently, flight AI170 from London Gatwick to Amritsar of 17 June stands cancelled," they added.
This marks the second Ahmedabad-to-London Air India service disrupted, following the June 12 crash of flight AI171 that killed 241 of the 242 people aboard. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, had taken off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport before crashing into the BJ Medical College campus and bursting into flames.
On Monday, June 16, another Air India flight was also cancelled after operational delays pushed the crew beyond their permissible duty hours, adding to growing unease about the airline’s preparedness and response.
Multiple Technical Snags Rock Air India
The Tuesday cancellation is part of a string of concerning incidents involving Air India aircraft in recent days. Earlier today, a flight from San Francisco to Mumbai was forced to deplane passengers in Kolkata after one of its engines developed a fault. Meanwhile, a Delhi-Ranchi Air India Express flight returned to the capital shortly after takeoff due to suspected technical issues.
In a separate event, flight AI315 from Hong Kong turned back midair, prompting Air India to issue a statement noting that the aircraft had landed safely and was undergoing checks “as a matter of abundant precaution.”
As concerns grow over Air India’s repeated technical failures, grief continues to ripple through Gujarat. So far, 119 victims have been identified through DNA testing, and the remains of 76, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, have been handed over to their families. The official probe into what caused the deadly crash is still ongoing.
