Air India Boeing Fleet Row: List of all flights cancelled in aftermath of AI-171 plane crash

New Delhi: After the deadliest Ahmedabad Air India Dreamliner A1-171 crash that claimed 241 lives, the airline has faced a series of cancellations and delays, triggering widespread concern among passengers.  

As of Wednesday, at least 13 Dreamliner flights were grounded, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that a total of 66 Boeing 787 flights have been cancelled since the crash, reflecting deep operational and technical turbulence. Here’s a detailed list of the major flight cancellations over the past few days:

1. AI-996: Dubai to Delhi
Flight AI-996, operated by a Boeing 787, was cancelled in Dubai due to a technical snag even after passengers had already boarded. The cancellation left travelers frustrated and highlighted the recurring tech issues post-crash. 

2. AI-159: Ahmedabad to London
This was the second time an Ahmedabad-London route was disrupted within a week. Scheduled to depart at 1:10 PM, the Dreamliner was grounded after a snag was detected. The aircraft had flown in from Delhi and was preparing for takeoff when the issue was noticed.

3. AI-915: Delhi to Dubai
This flight was among several grounded due to a mix of safety checks and logistical disruptions. It did not operate as planned, contributing to growing concerns among international travelers.

4. AI-133: Bengaluru to London Heathrow
This route, also operated by a Dreamliner, was cancelled as the aircraft was undergoing mandatory post-crash safety inspections. The flight was halted before departure.

5. AI-153: Delhi to Vienna
With route realignments and technical checks underway, AI-153 was cancelled. The airline has been facing difficulty maintaining its European routes due to aircraft shortages and increased scrutiny.

6. AI-143 & AI-142: Delhi to Paris & Return
AI-143 was called after mandatory checks revealed a technical issue. Since the flight was scheduled to arrive at Paris during restricted night hours, there wasn’t enough time to fix the problem. The return leg, AI-142, was also cancelled as a result.

7. AI-180: San Francisco to Mumbai (via Kolkata)
This Boeing 777-200LR was forced to terminate its journey at Kolkata after developing a technical fault in one of its engines. It was carrying 211 passengers. The return flight AI-179 from Mumbai to San Francisco was subsequently cancelled.

8. AI-1308: Delhi to Melbourne
Scheduled for a 1:15 AM departure, this international flight was cancelled at the last moment, stranding hundreds at the airport. Passengers claimed there was little to no communication from the airline.

9. AI-315: Hong Kong to Delhi
This Dreamliner flight was forced to return to Hong Kong shortly after takeoff. The mid-air turnaround was due to a suspected technical snag. The Hong Kong Airport Authority confirmed it landed safely around 1 PM.

10. AI-EX: Delhi to Ranchi (Air India Express)
Another worrying incident occurred when a domestic flight to Ranchi had to return to Delhi soon after departure due to a suspected snag, though it landed safely.

11. AI: Delhi to Bhubaneswar
Passengers on this domestic route were stranded overnight in Delhi. Though they were allowed to board after a long wait, the aircraft remained stationary without any takeoff clearance. No alternative arrangements were announced.

12. AI: Phuket to Delhi
Though not a technical issue, a Delhi-bound Air India flight from Phuket was forced to land in Thailand on June 13 after a bomb threat was reported. Passengers were safely evacuated and the plane was thoroughly screened.

13. AI: Jaipur to Dubai
A video that surfaced online showed passengers sweating and visibly uncomfortable on a Jaipur-Dubai flight with no functioning AC. Though the plane was not cancelled, the incident added to the mounting image crisis.

14. AI: San Francisco to Mumbai (June 17)
A different San Francisco-Mumbai service was disrupted on June 17 when the aircraft had to halt at Kolkata due to a technical fault. Passengers were deplaned while the aircraft underwent maintenance.

15. AI: Multiple Domestic Routes Cancelled
Flights on Delhi-Indore-Delhi, Delhi-Trivandrum-Delhi, Delhi-Mumbai-Delhi, and Delhi-Hyderabad-Delhi sectors were cancelled citing weather-related reasons. However, crew limitations and aircraft rotation played a key role.

Why Are So Many Air-India Flights Affected?
Following the fatal crash, Air India began rigorous safety inspections across its entire wide-body fleet, especially the Boeing 787 Dreamliners. According to the DGCA, 66 Dreamliner flights have been cancelled since June 12. Only 24 of the 33 Dreamliners have completed their checks so far. 

Adding to the challenge is the closure of Pakistani and Iranian airspace, which has forced rerouting and increased crew duty hours.
While the airline has offered hotel stays, rescheduling options, and refunds, the series of cancellations has left flyers anxious and raised serious questions about Air India’s fleet management and crisis response mechanisms.

DGCA Flags Concerns, Monitors Air India 
The DGCA held a meeting with senior officials from Air India and Air India Express, urging stricter compliance with safety, maintenance, and operational standards. It noted that while there were no major safety violations found during surveillance of the Boeing 787 fleet, the spike in cancellations was tied to enhanced technical checks and airspace restrictions.

The regulator highlighted internal coordination gaps, delays in defect reporting, and passenger facilitation lapses as key concerns. It directed the airline to improve spare part availability, ensure timely updates to flyers, and implement real-time defect monitoring to reduce future disruptions.

Despite the growing number of grounded flights, the DGCA maintained that all inspections are precautionary and essential for ensuring passenger safety and restoring confidence in Air India’s operations.

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