Second Ahmedabad–London Air India flight cancelled amid technical concerns
The aircraft, which was scheduled to depart at 1:10 PM, was grounded hours before take-off after routine pre-flight checks flagged the issue.
According to airline sources, the glitch was caught during standard maintenance procedures — a move that potentially averted a major crisis and ensured passenger safety.
However, the abrupt cancellation caused chaos at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, with scores of international passengers stranded, many of them already reeling from anxiety sparked by last week's tragedy.
This is the second cancellation on the Ahmedabad–London route in just four days.
The previous flight on June 14 was also scrapped following the crash, which killed 241 people on board and many others on the ground, taking the toll till now to 270.
Since then, Air India has retired the flight number AI-171, replacing it with AI-159 as a symbolic reset.
While the airline reiterates that 'passenger safety is paramount,' repeated disruptions have triggered growing concern and frustration among travellers.
The airline has yet to issue a formal statement on rebooking arrangements or compensation for Tuesday's affected passengers.
Meanwhile, four days after the devastating crash of Air India flight AI-171 en route from Ahmedabad to London, authorities have confirmed that 144 DNA samples have been successfully matched as of 12:00 PM today, according to Gujarat Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi.
The identification process is being led by a combined team from the State Forensic Science Laboratory and the National Forensic Sciences University, working round-the-clock to bring clarity and closure to grieving families.
"This is a highly sensitive and emotional task. Every match is not just a technical confirmation, but a step toward giving closure to families waiting in anguish," an official from the forensic unit said.
Emergency response teams remain stationed at the crash site in Meghani Nagar, where investigators continue to recover personal belongings and body fragments amid the wreckage.
Authorities have stated that all efforts are being made to ensure the dignity of the deceased and transparency in communication with the victims' relatives.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Ahmedabad air crash: Around 15 human remains found from crash site, consent forms to decide fate
As the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital is gradually returning to normalcy nearly three weeks after Air India flight AI 171 crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel, killing 241 passengers and crew members, along with 19 on the ground on June 12, more human remains were found from the crash site. On June 28, the health department, through the hospital, had handed over the body of the last passenger, Anil Khimani from Kutch, after a prolonged process of DNA extraction from charred remains of it. In all, 260 people have been confirmed dead after the Gatwick-bound Boeing 787 aircraft crashed. Of them, 254 had been identified by matching DNA samples, and six through facial recognition. Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, who was on board the aircraft, is the lone survivor of the crash. The Ahmedabad Civil Hospital still has 15 remains or exhibits found from the crash site, the last one — a femur bone — having been recovered as recently as June 27. The process of DNA extraction is underway and the same will be matched with the referral samples and handed over to the respective families after the identities are confirmed, Health department officials told The Indian Express. Sources revealed that families of victims have filled consent forms when the bodies were handed over, In these forms, they have mentioned whether they will come to claim in case more body parts are found later or allow the hospital authorities to undertake the process as per protocol, or wait till the entire process of search and investigation is over. Officials said, 'It is difficult to provide a timeline. Thus, most of the families have chosen from the first two options — depending upon which, families will be contacted and required process will be undertaken this week. 'For these 15 exhibits, the final call will be taken based upon the consent forms, which the families filled when they were handed over the bodies,' a senior health official told this paper. Families were handed over remains of charred bodies, or remains that matched with their DNA samples, in sealed coffins, and were advised to not open them. Out of the 260 bodies, 31 were flown by air by the state government, including 13 sent to the UK. The state government arranged transportation for the remaining 229. 'We are coming back to our old routine, though with heavy hearts,' BJ Medical College Dean Dr Meenakshi Parikh told The Indian Express as classes resumed on June 23. BJ Medical College's Kasauti Bhawan, which was repurposed into a centre for DNA sample collections from the relatives of the victims, has now been holding exams for students. The prelim examinations for undergraduate MBBS students commenced last week. 'With only two DNA samples left to be collected from the victims' relatives who are British nationals, the facilities from the Kasauti Bhawan were wound up on June 21 and shifted to the D2 ward near the Trauma Centre. The first exam was conducted there on June 26,' Dr Parikh added. Kasauti Bhawan was selected for the DNA collection centre considering its capacity of nearly 700 people and the fact that it was away from the Trauma Centre. Earlier, for a very brief period, the E1 ward of the Civil Hospital was designated for the purpose, but soon, the centre was shifted to Kasauti Bhawan. 'At the facility set up at Kasauti Bhawan, we have even collected samples from seven people at a time. The entire process — from DNA sample collection to handing over of the body — went in a planned and well-co-ordinated manner with the help of several agencies,' Dr Rakesh Joshi, Medical Superintendent at the hospital, told this paper.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Luggage lock broken, Rs 70,000 cash stolen: Passenger complains of theft in Air India flight
A case of theft has come to light during an Air India flight, where a passenger's luggage was tampered with and valuables were stolen. Sahil Juneja, a resident of Pathankot, alleged that while returning from Singapore to Chandigarh via Delhi, his bag's number lock was broken, resulting in Rs 70,000 of cash getting stolen. Sahil stated in a police complaint that he and his family had travelled from Singapore to Delhi, carrying three luggage bags, all in perfect condition. For their onward journey from Delhi to Chandigarh, they boarded another Air India flight. However, upon landing at Chandigarh airport at 4:55 am on June 30, Sahil discovered that Rs 70,000 in cash had been stolen from one of their bags. Taking to social media, Sahil tagged accounts of Air India, Delhi Airport, and Air India Chandigarh, saying 'I trusted the airline with my belongings — that trust is now shattered. Where is the accountability'. The complainant also claimed that he was not the only victim. Other passengers, including a woman traveling from New York to Chandigarh, reported broken suitcase zips and missing items like perfumes and personal belongings. In its response, Air India (tweeted) on X : 'Valuable items such as cash and jewelry should be kept in hand baggage as per our guidelines'. However, Sahil fired back, saying: 'But did you mention on your site that if we keep our valuables in our luggage, Air India staff have a right to break the locks intentionally and check our luggage and can steal things? You should mention these things in your site as well then'. 'Should we travel empty-handed now? Because nothing is secure there,' he added. Sahil has filed a formal written complaint at the Mohali Airport Police Station demanding a full investigation and recovery of the stolen cash, along with strict action against the responsible staff.
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Sabotage angle in Air India crash? A question too critical to ignore
What caused the ill-fated Air India plane to crash in Ahmedabad is yet to be known. But as experts speculate causes, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, underlined the investigation of possible sabotage. Does such an investigation make sense?advertisementSample these numbers:Around 465 incidents of GPS spoofing in the border region of India between November 2023 and February 2025 have been reported, mostly in the Amritsar, Jammu regionsA Delhi–Jammu Air India flight returned to Delhi as a precautionary measure following a suspected GPS interference incident in JuneThe Indian Air Force's C-130J aircraft experienced GPS spoofing while it was flying over Myanmar during the Operation Brahma relief mission in AprilAttacks related to GPS spoofing or jamming are also rapidly increasing around the to the International Air Transport Association, reports of global navigation satellite system or GNSS interference — including signal disruptions, jamming, and spoofing — surged between 2023 and 2024. Interference rates increased by 175 per cent, while GPS spoofing incidents spiked by 500 per cent. The consequences of GPS spoofing could include midair collisions caused by the inability to maintain the required separation; controlled flight into terrain caused by proximity to high terrain; and runway excursions caused by the loss of runway overrun prevention & GPS SpoofingThe rise in global conflicts has significantly contributed to increased incidents of GPS spoofing. Airlines reported 4.3 lakh cases of satellite signal jamming or spoofing over conflict zones in 2024, which is a 62 per cent increase from the 2.6 lakh incidents recorded in conflicts drove a major rise in GPS spoofing and jamming in 2024. Such incidents have been common around Egypt, Lebanon, the Black Sea, as well as near the Russian borders with Estonia, Latvia, and Belarus. GPS jamming has also occurred in Myanmar and on the border between India and Pakistan around Lahore, though less frequently,' the IATA spoofing is only one of the many forms of cyberattacks faced by the global aviation industry. Other attacks include ransomware attacks, unauthorised access, credential theft and damaging other critical the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States mentioned that the effects of GPS jamming or spoofing have been observed by crews in various phases of flight. In some cases, these effects led to re-routing or diversions due to the inability to perform safe instrument procedures. It also launched a website where pilots can report such incidents.- EndsMust Watch
