Latest news with #AI159
Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Middle East conflict: Flights resume, passengers relieved as airlines restore operations
AFTER THE disruption caused by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, major Indian airlines have begun resuming flights from Wednesday, offering relief to hundreds of affected travellers. Carriers including Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet had earlier suspended or rerouted services as a safety measure, but with conditions gradually stabilising, operations are being cautiously restored. Apoorva, an Air India official, said the suspensions were necessary due to security concerns linked to the conflict. 'With the situation now stabilising, we have resumed operations on certain routes. Passenger communication, rebooking, and refunds are being handled as per protocol,' the official said. SpiceJet spokesperson said, 'Flight operations to the Middle East have now returned to normal. We're operating smoothly and even resumed our flights from the 25th.' Dr Santosh, a passenger who was scheduled to fly from Ahmedabad to London on Air India flight AI 159, shared his experience, 'I was supposed to fly on Tuesday morning at 5:30, but due to the situation in the Middle East, our flight got cancelled. It was stressful because I thought I would miss important business work in London. Now that the flights have resumed, I feel a huge sense of relief. I'm thankful that operations are slowly returning to normal.' Among the routes affected earlier this week were Pune-Singapore and Bengaluru-Singapore, both of which were temporarily suspended by Air India until at least July 15. The airline had also halted its Mumbai-Bagdogra route and reduced frequencies on 19 other major domestic and short-haul international routes. Routes such as Delhi-Mumbai, Mumbai-Kolkata, and Delhi-Goa saw temporary frequency cuts. Despite the cuts, Air India continued operating nearly 600 daily flights and had assured passengers that it was working proactively to offer re-accommodation, complimentary rescheduling, or full refunds. With the easing of tension in some regions, the airline has now begun restoring schedules in a phased manner. IndiGo, which had suspended flights to and from over a dozen Middle Eastern cities including Dubai, Doha, Kuwait, and Jeddah, also resumed select services on Wednesday. The airline continues to assess the situation closely in coordination with aviation authorities and is gradually reactivating affected routes where safe. Meanwhile, in a stark reminder of the seriousness of the situation, a Dubai-bound SpiceJet flight from Pune was forced to return mid-air early Monday morning. Flight SG-51 had taken off from Pune International Airport around 9:54 pm but returned shortly after crossing Indian airspace due to the escalating conflict in the region. While the airspace over conflict-affected zones remains under watch, Indian carriers have reiterated that passenger safety remains their top priority. Flyers are advised to check real-time updates via airline websites or apps and ensure their contact details are updated for timely alerts. With phased resumptions now underway, airlines are cautiously optimistic about returning to full operations, provided the geopolitical environment continues to stabilise.
News18
18-06-2025
- News18
Air India Crash Triggers Flight Delays And Cancellations Globally
Last Updated: Air India crash on June 12 causes global flight cancellations. DGCA enforces strict safety checks, grounding Dreamliners and imposing new airspace rules. In the wake of the June 12 Air India plane crash, airlines around the world have faced a ripple effect of flight cancellations and mid-air diversions. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has responded with strict safety inspections, grounding several Dreamliner aircraft and enforcing new airspace restrictions. Following the tragic Air India plane crash, which claimed the lives of 241 passengers and several people on the ground, airlines have gone on high alert. Multiple flights, both international and domestic, have faced cancellations due to technical issues, adverse weather conditions and heightened safety protocols. Below is a list of recent flight cancellations and the reasons behind them. Flight Cancellations Surge After Air India Crash 1. Air India AI 159 (Ahmedabad → London Gatwick) – June 17 Air India's Ahmedabad–London flight (AI159) was cancelled on Tuesday, just days after the Gujarat crash. According to Air India, the cancellation was not due to any technical issue but rather the unavailability of aircraft, ongoing airspace restrictions and mandatory safety checks. 2. AI 143 (Delhi → Paris) – June 17 On June 17, Air India cancelled two flights: AI143 from Delhi to Paris and the return leg, AI142 from Paris to Delhi. An Air India spokesperson confirmed that the Delhi–Paris flight was grounded after a routine pre-flight inspection revealed a technical issue, prompting the cancellation of both sectors. On the same day, Air India cancelled flight AI-915 from Delhi to Dubai, bringing the total number of grounded Dreamliner flights that day to six. Air India issued a travel advisory on X (formerly Twitter) stating that flight operations were affected and some flights were diverted due to bad weather in Delhi. 4. BA 35 (London Heathrow → Chennai) – June 15 British Airways flight BA35, en route to Chennai, was forced to circle multiple times over the Strait of Dover before returning to London Heathrow on Sunday, June 15, due to a reported technical issue. According to multiple reports, the aircraft experienced a 'flap adjustment failure." The airline confirmed that all passengers and crew landed safely. Shortly after takeoff from London Heathrow (LHR), the captain of flight #BA35 to Chennai (MAA) reported a "flap adjustment failure" on the Boeing 787-8 (G-ZBJG).The crew had to dump fuel while holding for over an hour before returning safely to LHR at 13:52UTC today.🎥:… — Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) June 15, 2025 5. AI 170 (London Gatwick → Amritsar) – June 17 Air India cancelled its London Gatwick–Amritsar flight on Tuesday, June 17. Earlier that day, the Ahmedabad–Gatwick service was also called off. The airline attributed the Ahmedabad cancellation to limited aircraft availability, citing airspace restrictions and extended precautionary inspections that delayed turnaround times. 6. Air India Mumbai → Lucknow (AI 2491) – June 17 Amid a wave of cancellations, Air India's flight AI2491 from Mumbai to Lucknow was also called off. The airline cited 'operational reasons," explaining that earlier flight diversions caused by heavy rain in Delhi had a cascading effect. Due to the weather-related disruptions, replacement crews could not be arranged in time. 7. Air India (Bali → Delhi) – June 18 A massive eruption from Mount Lewotobi in Indonesia forced an Air India flight from Delhi to Bali to turn back mid-air on Wednesday. The airline confirmed that the flight returned safely to Delhi, where all passengers were disembarked without incident. First Published:
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Plane shortage grounds Air India's Ahmedabad-London flight
AHMEDABAD: Air India's Ahmedabad-London Gatwick flight, renumbered AI 159 from AI 171 after the tragic crash last week, was cancelled Tuesday shortly after it missed its scheduled 1.10pm departure amid speculation of a snag. The airline clarified that the reason was "aircraft unavailability" resulting from airspace restrictions over West Asia and extended safety checks since the June 12 Dreamliner crash on this route. Air India, which resumed the flight on Monday after a gap of four days, announced Tuesday's cancellation after the Boeing 787-8 had completed its return leg from Gatwick to Ahmedabad airport only at 1.19pm, hours behind schedule. "There was no technical snag, as claimed," Air India said, adding that airspace curbs and additional checks were "leading to longer than usual turnaround of aircraft". "We regret the inconvenience caused and have made alternate arrangements for affected passengers. Hotel stays, full refunds, or complimentary rescheduling are being offered, based on passenger preference," the statement said. Meanwhile, Air India cancelled nine scheduled international flights Tuesday, eight of them involving Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, as factors ranging from DGCA-mandated additional safety checks to increased turnaround time because of airspace closures stretched the carrier's maintenance and operational capabilities. Besides the renumbered AI 159 Dreamliner from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, the airline announced the cancellation of its Gatwick-Amritsar, Delhi-Vienna, Delhi-Paris, Paris-Delhi, Delhi-Dubai, Bengaluru-London and London-Bengaluru flights. A ninth flight, a Boeing 777 operating between San Francisco and Mumbai with a pit stop in Kolkata, was grounded in the Bengal capital because of a snag. This led to return Mumbai-San Francisco flight being cancelled soon after. The scheduled Vienna-Delhi flight escaped the cascading effect of multiple cancellations because a Boeing 787-8 was already parked there, officials said. Air India's fleet includes 33 Dreamliners, of which four are undergoing long-term maintenance. At least 24 of the remaining 29 aircraft of this series have gone through one-time safety inspections ordered by the country's civil aviation regulator. Longer routes to and from the West because of the Israel-Iran war have compounded Air India's operational troubles since the Dreamliner AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, which was India's worst civil aviation disaster involving a single aircraft. With Iran and even Jordanian airspace closed, flying durations on some routes have increased by about an hour. Pilots and cabin crew having to fly longer also impacts turnaround time. Sources said Air India had petitioned DGCA to ease stipulated duty intervals that are meant to prevent crew fatigue. "Air India has expanded its routes in the past two years while aircraft induction has been slower than expected due to global supply chain issues. As a result, the airliner has stretched itself thin, which affects on-time performance. There's hardly any buffer if an aircraft has to be grounded for technical reasons," a source said.
Qatar Tribune
17-06-2025
- Qatar Tribune
Air India flight to London cancelled because of ‘operational issues'
London: An Air India flight scheduled for the same route as the plane that crashed last week has been cancelled. Flight AI 159 was planned to depart Ahmedabad, India, at 1:10 pm (0740 GMT) on Tuesday, and arrive at Gatwick airport at 6:25 pm. Air India's website shows the flight was initially delayed by one hour and 50 minutes but has since been cancelled. No reason has been given by the airline but Indian newspaper the Hindustan Times reported that an airport official said the cancellation was 'due to operational issues'. An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off on June 12 in what was one of the deadliest plane accidents in terms of the number of British nationals killed. The aircraft struck a medical college hostel in a residential part of Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board, 52 of whom were British. The sole surviving passenger was Briton Vishwash Kumar Ramesh. Investigators are yet to determine the cause of the crash. (PA Media/dpa)
Daily Mirror
17-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Air India crash footage teen 'traumatised' as disaster had 'devastating impact'
The 17-year-old who took mobile phone footage of Air India Flight 171 crashing in a huge fireball was visiting his dad in Ahmedabad - who says his son has been heavily impacted by the disaster The teenager who took the shocking video of the Air India plane crash has been left traumatised by the appalling images he saw. Footage taken by Aryan Asari, 17, is now a key part of the investigation into the horror incident. The air accident team were last night poring over every frame for clues to what caused the plane to plunge from the sky. The investigation continues as more victims' remains were identified and returned to grieving relatives. Incredibly Aryan took the film on his mobile phone on his first ever visit to Ahmedabad - his first ever trip away from his rural home village where he lives with his. He told the BBC: "I saw the plane. It was going down and down. Then it wobbled and crashed right before my eyes.' His dad Maganbhai Asari said it had 'devastating impact" his son who called him immediately after the crash. He said: 'He sounded so frightened - 'I saw it papa, I saw it crash,' he said to me and kept asking me what would happen to him. "I told him to sit tight and not to worry. But he was beside himself in horror. This was Aryan's first time in Ahmedabad. Actually, it was the first time in his life that he left the village. "Whenever I'd call, Aryan would ask if I could spot aeroplanes from our terrace and I would tell him you could see hundreds of them streaking the sky." He added: "My son was so disturbed by then that we decided to send him back to the village." Back at home, Aryan has resumed school but is "still not feeling like himself. His mother tells me that every time his phone rings, he gets scared", Mr Asari said. "I know he will be fine with time. "But I don't think my son will try looking for aeroplanes in the sky.' An Air India flight on the same route as the plane that crashed was cancelled yesterday because of "precautionary checks'. Flight AI159 was planned to depart Ahmedabad, India, at 1.10pm local time on Tuesday, and arrive at Gatwick airport at 6.25pm India's website shows the flight was initially delayed by one hour and 50 minutes but was later cancelled. A flight from Gatwick to Amritsar, India, set to depart at 8pm BST was also axed. The cancelled flights were scheduled to be operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which is the same type of aircraft that crashed shortly after take-off at Ahmedabad on June 12. An Air India spokesperson said: "Flight AI 159 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick has been cancelled today due to the unavailability of the aircraft, resulting from airspace restrictions and additional precautionary checks, leading to longer than usual turnaround of aircraft, and not due to any technical snag as claimed. "We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers and have made alternative arrangements to fly them to their destination." Last week's crash was one of the deadliest plane accidents in terms of the number of British nationals killed. The Air India aircraft struck a medical college hostel in a residential part of Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board, 52 of whom were British. The sole surviving passenger was Briton Vishwash Kumar Ramesh.
