Flights involving Boeing Dreamliners cancelled on routes including London, Paris, Vienna and Dubai
Air India Grounds Eight International Flights Amid Ongoing Boeing 787 Crash Investigation
New Delhi, June 18, 2025 – Air India has cancelled at least eight international flights operated by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, the same aircraft model involved in last week’s devastating crash that killed more than 270 people. The cancellations, which took place on Tuesday, impacted key long-haul routes including London, Paris, Vienna, and Dubai.
The airline cited multiple reasons for the disruption: aircraft unavailability, technical issues, airspace constraints, and extensive safety checks now mandated across its wide-body fleet.
In the past 48 hours alone, at least three additional Dreamliner flights were grounded or delayed, while a Boeing 777 on the San Francisco–Mumbai route was pulled from service due to a separate technical fault.
Mounting Pressure on Air India and Boeing
The widespread disruptions come as scrutiny intensifies on both Air India and Boeing. Investigators are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry into the June 12 crash of Flight AI171 shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The prevailing theory suggests a catastrophic and rare dual engine failure, although the final cause remains unconfirmed.
Regulator Finds No Major Safety Breach — But Raises Red Flags
Offering limited relief to the Tata Group-owned airline, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said late Tuesday that it had completed inspections on 24 of the airline’s 33 Dreamliners. The results showed no major safety defects, but inspectors highlighted gaps in maintenance practices, spare parts shortages, and coordination failures between engineering, ground handling, and flight operations teams.
Despite these concerns, the DGCA confirmed that all inspected aircraft complied with current safety standards. Air India’s 787 fleet forms the backbone of its international operations, making the regulator’s endorsement crucial to maintaining global schedules and public trust.
Tragedy in Ahmedabad
Flight AI171 issued a Mayday call seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft climbed only to 650 feet before crashing into a nearby medical college, igniting a massive fire. Of the 242 people on board, only one survived. At least 29 individuals on the ground also lost their lives.
The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British citizen of Indian origin, described the harrowing moments:
“Right in front of my eyes, I saw air hostesses, uncles, aunties dying.”
Ramesh, who lost his brother in the crash, is now recovering from serious injuries.
DNA Matching and Repatriation
By Tuesday, DNA samples of 135 victims had been matched, with 101 bodies returned to families. Shockingly, five of those identified were not listed on the flight manifest, raising concerns over passenger screening protocols.
Dr. Rakesh Joshi, superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, expressed hope that all identifications would be completed by Wednesday.
Honouring the Captain
Hundreds attended the funeral in Mumbai for Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot of AI171, who is being hailed as a hero. The veteran aviator, with over 8,000 hours of flying experience, is believed to have diverted the aircraft away from more densely populated areas in his final moments.
Investigations Intensify
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the probe, with technical support from both UK and US aviation authorities. Key questions remain:
- Why did the aircraft’s landing gear stay down?
- Were there errors in flap or thrust settings?
- Did both engines truly fail mid-climb?
Both cockpit voice and flight data recorders have been recovered, offering investigators critical insights. A former US Navy pilot and commercial aviation expert, Steve Scheibner, remarked:
“There was some sort of dual engine failure. It’s extremely rare—and extremely serious.”
The DGCA has ordered Air India to provide detailed personnel files of the flight crew and dispatcher, and has instructed all airports to carry out additional safety drills. Flying schools have also been told to perform compliance audits.
A Pivotal Moment for Air India
The crash represents a major challenge for the Tata Group, which acquired Air India in 2022 after nearly 70 years of state control. Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran called the incident a turning point:
“We need to use this incident as an act of force to build a safer airline. We’re going to get through this.”
On Tuesday, Boeing’s commercial chief Stephanie Pope met with Chandrasekaran at Air India’s Delhi headquarters. While Boeing has pledged full cooperation with investigators, the crash has once again placed the manufacturer under sharp global scrutiny, particularly regarding the safety record of its flagship wide-body aircraft.
As the investigation continues, Air India faces the twin challenges of restoring passenger confidence and ensuring its long-term international reliability.
