Air India Cancels Multiple International Flights After Pre-Flight Checks Raise Safety Concerns

Air India on Tuesday cancelled several international flights after routine pre-flight checks flagged safety concerns. Among the scrapped flights was AI 143 from Delhi to Paris.

The airline said the cancellation followed an issue identified during mandatory checks, which is now being addressed.

As a result, the return AI 142 Paris–Delhi flight on 18 June 2025 also stood cancelled. Air India cited night operation restrictions at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport as an additional reason.

The airline apologised for the inconvenience and said it was arranging alternative travel and offering full refunds or complimentary rescheduling.

Second cancellation on Ahmedabad–London route

Earlier in the day, AI-159, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flying from Ahmedabad to London-Gatwick, was grounded due to aircraft unavailability. Air India clarified that airspace restrictions and extra precautionary checks, not technical faults, delayed aircraft turnaround and forced the cancellation.

The flight, scheduled to depart at 1:10 PM, was cancelled hours before take-off. The abrupt move left many passengers stranded at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

Tensions ran high, as this was the second cancellation on the route in just four days. On 14 June, the previous flight was scrapped after a tragic crash claimed 270 lives, including 241 passengers.

To mark a symbolic reset, the airline has now retired AI-171, the flight number involved in the crash, replacing it with AI-159.

Engine trouble grounds SFO–Mumbai flight

Meanwhile, another Air India flight from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata was halted in Kolkata early Tuesday. A technical snag was detected in one of its engines at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport.

Following the series of incidents, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) summoned an urgent virtual meeting with top officials of Air India and Air India Express. The DGCA is expected to review safety protocols and compliance measures.

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