After the flight of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed, in which 241 passengers and crew members died, several Air India flights were seen to be disrupted. The accident was one of the country’s deadliest aircraft accidents, after which the airlines are facing operational challenges, technical problems and increased regulatory investigations.
List of affected flights:
1. Ahmedabad-Gatwicks (AI-159): The flight on Tuesday was canceled due to unavailability of aircraft, which was due to airspace sanctions and additional security checks. Air India dismissed technical fault claims.
2. Gatvik-Amritsar (AI-170): The flight was also canceled on 17 June due to the cancellation of AI-159.
3. Mumbai-Ahmedabad (AI-2493): Canceled due to the expiry of the flight duty time of the crew after the delay on the operations on 16 June.
4. Delhi-Paris (AI-143): Canceled due to problems in pre-flight investigation on 17 June, and its return leg (AI-142, Paris-Delhi) canceled on 18 June.
5. Delhi-Ranchi (Air India Express): The flight returned on suspicion of technical problem, but the flight started again after investigation.
6. Hong Kong-Delhi: The flight returned due to technical reasons.
7. San Francisco-Kolkata-Mumbai: Passengers were removed.
Following the accident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered a intensive security check of the Boeing 787–8/9 aircraft, including fuel criteria and cabin air compressors. Passengers complained of cancellation and delayed inconvenience, some demanded alternative flights on the same day. Air India offered hotel housing and refunds, but the anger of the passengers is increasing. Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of Investigation (AAIB) and the US National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) have recovered flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders to investigate the accident. The accident and subsequent flight problems highlight the challenges of image improvement and operational stability for Air India.
