Air India grounds key long-haul flights after deadly Dreamliner crash
Air India slashes routes after Ahmedabad disaster
Air India has axed several major international flights and cut frequencies following the shocking crash of its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner last Thursday. The plane went down shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad on its way to Gatwick, killing 241 of the 242 onboard and around 30 on the ground.
Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran insisted the aircraft had a spotless record and confirmed both engines were up to date on maintenance.
Flight cancellations hit Africa, UK and more
Starting Saturday, June 21, Air India will suspend or reduce services operated by Boeing 787 and 777 jets. The following routes have been axed completely:
- Delhi to Nairobi
- Amritsar to Gatwick
- Goa to Gatwick
Flights from Delhi, Bengaluru, and Amritsar to North America, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and parts of Europe including Heathrow and Birmingham will run less often.
Notably, the Ahmedabad to Gatwick route remains in service despite being the crash route.
Safety clampdown and passenger promises
Air India cited tougher pre-flight safety checks and Middle East airspace restrictions causing longer flight times for the cuts. Passengers affected will be offered refunds or alternatives.
“We apologise to customers for the disruption and are taking every step to ensure their safety,” a company spokesperson said.
Clean record but maintenance concerns linger
Chandrasekaran detailed the Dreamliner’s engines: the right was replaced with a new one in January 2025, while the left was last serviced in 2023 and due again in December 2025.
Separately, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had earlier warned Air India about maintenance delays and overdue emergency slide checks—but on Airbus planes, not the crash aircraft.
Black box hunt and forensic analysis
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is yet to decide where the plane’s flight data recorders will be analysed. Fire damage means the black boxes might have to be sent to the US for forensic decoding.
The recorders hold crucial info such as altitude, airspeed, flight controls, cockpit audio, and pilot communications.
British survivor moves on amid family anger
The flight’s sole survivor, a British national, has been discharged and has since carried the coffin of his brother, who died in the crash, at a funeral in western India.
British families hit by the tragedy have slammed the UK government, claiming they feel “utterly abandoned” in the aftermath.
