Renamed Air India plane among 13 Dreamliners hit by technical, operation issues on Tuesday

By Admin

18 Jun, 2025

In the aftermath of a tragic crash on June 12, Air India continues to grapple with significant disruptions across its international network, especially involving its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. On Tuesday alone, at least 13 Dreamliner flights were grounded due to technical and operational issues, further straining the airline’s already-stressed operations.

Groundings and Cancellations Hit Passengers Hard

Among the most notable cancellations was Flight AI-159, a renamed version of the ill-fated AI-171, which was scheduled to depart from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick at 1:10 PM. The aircraft was later rescheduled for 3:00 PM, but the departure was ultimately cancelled due to what the airline cited as "unavailability of the aircraft." The jet assigned to the route had arrived late from London, with airspace restrictions and precautionary checks contributing to delays in its turnaround. Air India denied any technical snags for the cancellation.

AI-159 now replaces the former Flight AI-171, the Dreamliner that crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, tragically killing 241 of the 242 onboard and over 30 more on the ground. Following this, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directed Air India to conduct enhanced safety inspections on its Dreamliner fleet.

Widespread Disruptions Post-Tragedy

Since June 12, 66 Boeing 787 flights have been cancelled by Air India, part of a total of 83 cancellations within its wide-body fleet. The DGCA confirmed that of the 90 wide-body flights scheduled that day, 50 were on Dreamliners, of which six were immediately cancelled. These disruptions continue to ripple through the airline’s schedule.

As of Tuesday, 24 of the airline's 33 Dreamliners had undergone regulatory checks, with two more to be completed the same day. One more was scheduled for inspection the following day, and six aircraft remained grounded, including two in Delhi for maintenance or technical reasons.

Other Affected Routes and Flights

Air India’s Dreamliner cancellations extended beyond the Ahmedabad-London sector. Other significant flights affected include:

• AI-143 (Delhi-Paris): Cancelled due to issues found during pre-flight checks. Its return leg, AI-142 (Paris-Delhi), was also cancelled.
  
  

• AI-180 (San Francisco-Mumbai via Kolkata): Terminated at Kolkata due to engine trouble; its return, AI-179, was also cancelled.
  
  

• AI-915 (Delhi-Dubai), AI-133 (Bengaluru-London Heathrow), and AI-153 (Delhi-Vienna): All were cancelled.
  
  

• Domestic sectors such as Delhi-Indore, Delhi-Trivandrum, Delhi-Mumbai, and Delhi-Hyderabad also saw cancellations due to adverse weather conditions.
  
  

Global Turbulence and Airspace Closures

Adding to Air India’s woes is the closure of airspace over parts of Pakistan and Iran, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions, including Israeli military activity. This has led to rerouting of many long-haul flights and has impacted crew duty limits, compounding delays and cancellations.

Regulatory Oversight and Safety Measures

A high-level meeting between DGCA and top officials from Air India and Air India Express was held Tuesday to review safety protocols and operational challenges. The regulator emphasized the importance of safety compliance, especially for Dreamliners, and assured the public that only aircraft cleared through stringent checks would operate.

A spokesperson for Air India highlighted that the airline continues to operate over 1,000 flights daily across its global network, despite the challenges. The airline is also offering full refunds, alternative travel arrangements, and hotel accommodations to affected passengers.

Industry Reactions

Aviation safety expert Mohan Ranganathan commented that such widespread disruption was expected. “The airline has lost a Dreamliner, is undergoing intensive checks, and facing route limitations due to closed airspace. Crew scheduling and regulatory checks all slow down the system. It’s a major operational burden.”

Conclusion

Air India finds itself navigating not only turbulent skies but also the weight of a tragic loss, operational strain, and global uncertainties. With passengers stranded and schedules in flux, the airline’s crisis management, transparency, and commitment to safety remain under intense scrutiny.