New Delhi / Ahmedabad | June 18, 2025
In the aftermath of the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 on June 12, India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has confirmed that 66 Air India flights scheduled with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft have been cancelled. This includes multiple international routes such as Delhi–Paris, Delhi–Vienna, and Mumbai–San Francisco, primarily due to heightened maintenance inspections and aircraft availability constraints.
No Major Safety Lapses Found, Says DGCA
Despite the cancellations, the DGCA stated that its recent surveillance of Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet did not uncover any major safety issues. A formal statement released on Tuesday said that both the aircraft and its associated maintenance systems were found to be in compliance with prevailing aviation safety standards.
However, DGCA also acknowledged growing concerns over Air India’s maintenance-related coordination. The regulator has directed the airline to improve inter-departmental communication and oversight, emphasizing the importance of proactive monitoring in the wake of the June 12 disaster.
The Crash That Shook the Nation
On June 12, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed minutes after takeoff, plunging into a student hostel complex near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The crash killed 241 out of 242 people on board, along with multiple casualties on the ground, making it one of India’s worst aviation tragedies in decades.
Among those who lost their lives was Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, whose emotional farewell by his grieving father has drawn massive attention online. Others included bride-to-be Roshni Songhare, an Air India crew member, and social media influencers, making the human toll deeply personal and widely felt.
Flights Cancelled Amid Fleet Scrutiny
As part of the precautionary steps, the following Boeing 787-operated flights were cancelled on Tuesday alone:
- AI915 – Delhi to Dubai
- AI153 – Delhi to Vienna
- AI143 – Delhi to Paris
- AI159 – Ahmedabad to London (New code for the previously ill-fated AI171)
- AI170 – London to Amritsar
- AI133 – Bengaluru to London
Additionally, a Boeing 777 flight, AI179 from Mumbai to San Francisco, was also cancelled due to aircraft unavailability.
Notably, Air India had resumed its Ahmedabad–London Gatwick service just a day earlier on Monday, renumbered from AI171 to AI159, but the flight had to be pulled back from operation due to the lack of a service-ready aircraft.
Rising Public Concern and Demand for Accountability
The crash has raised not only operational but also public trust issues, with passengers and crew reportedly describing the atmosphere onboard recent flights as somber. Bollywood actor Raveena Tandon, who recently flew with Air India, noted the emotional toll on crew members.
Simultaneously, questions are being asked about Air India’s internal preparedness, aircraft maintenance standards, and crisis response systems. With the involvement of international routes and foreign nationals, the investigation has drawn global attention.
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