Ahmedabad, June 17: Air India’s scheduled flight AI 159 from Ahmedabad to London was cancelled on Tuesday due to a technical malfunction, adding to a growing list of operational disruptions faced by the Indian carrier company in recent days.
According to reports, flight AI 159 had arrived from New Delhi and was due to depart for London later the same day. However, a technical fault was identified, forcing the airline to abort the departure. This marks the second major incident involving the Ahmedabad–London route in under a week.
On June 12, a devastating crash involving Air India flight AI171, operating a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, resulted in the deaths of 241 out of 242 people onboard. The aircraft plummeted shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, crashing into buildings within the BJ Medical College campus and erupting in flames. It was the deadliest aviation disaster in India in over 30 years.
Further compounding the carrier’s operational woes, another flight—AI2493 from Mumbai to Ahmedabad, scheduled to be operated by an Airbus A321-211 (VT-PPL)—was cancelled on Monday due to delays stemming from crew duty limitations. The delays were reportedly caused by unrelated operational issues.
In a separate incident early Tuesday, an Air India flight en route from San Francisco to Mumbai experienced an engine-related technical glitch and was diverted to Kolkata, where passengers were asked to disembark during the unscheduled layover.
Operational disruptions continued as an Air India Express flight from Delhi to Ranchi was forced to return to the capital shortly after takeoff due to a suspected technical fault. Similarly, another Air India flight operating AI315 returned to Hong Kong after encountering a midair issue. The airline later confirmed that the return was a precautionary measure and that the aircraft landed safely.
As investigations into the June 12 crash continue, authorities have confirmed the identification of 119 victims through DNA testing, with the remains of 76—including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani—being handed over to families for final rites.
With multiple aircraft grounded, flight schedules disrupted, and public confidence shaken, Air India faces increasing scrutiny over its maintenance protocols and crisis response capabilities. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to intensify audits of the airline’s fleet and operations in the coming days.
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