
Air India AI 159 Grounded: Tech Issues Haunt Same Route As AI 171 Disaster
New Delhi: Air India's flight AI 159 from Ahmedabad to London was cancelled due to a technical glitch detected during routine checks. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, scheduled to depart at 1:10 pm, was grounded hours before takeoff as a precautionary measure.
This cancellation comes just days after a devastating plane crash on the same route, which claimed 274 lives. The airline cited "operational issues" as the reason for the cancellation without providing further details. Passengers expressed frustration over the lack of information and facilities provided to them, with some complaining about the sudden cancellation without prior notice.
A passenger told ANI that the Air India flight AI-159 from Ahmedabad to London, Gatwick, has been suddenly cancelled.
"I was going to Gatwick, London, by the 1 p.m. Air India flight, but I have just learned that the flight has been cancelled. The crew members could not give any reason for the flight cancellation or details on a fare refund," the passenger added.
#WATCH | Ahmedabad | Passengers of Air India flight AI-159 from Ahmedabad to London, Gatwick say the flight has been suddenly cancelled
An AI-159 flight passenger says, "I was going to Gatwick, London, by the 1 p.m. Air India flight, but I have just learned that the flight has… pic.twitter.com/XnKUWOMWhI — ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2025
Another passenger said, "We have been told that today's flight has been cancelled and it will depart at 1100 hours tomorrow. All passengers here are troubled."
#WATCH | Ahmedabad | A relative of an AI-159 passenger says, "We have been told that today's flight has been cancelled and it will depart at 1100 hours tomorrow. All passengers here are troubled." pic.twitter.com/WQf7jUKwoj — ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2025
This incident adds to Air India's recent woes, including a technical snag in one of its engines on a San Francisco to Mumbai flight, which forced passengers to deplane at Kolkata airport, and a Delhi-bound flight that returned to Hong Kong due to a suspected technical issue.

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Indian Express
16 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Several Boeing 787-operated Air India flights cancelled on Tuesday amid DGCA-mandated enhanced technical checks
Various Boeing 787-operated flights of Air India were cancelled Tuesday as the enhanced safety inspections mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) led to delays and non-availability of aircraft in most cases, according to sources in the know. As per flight tracking data, at least nine Air India flights that were to be operated using the Boeing 787 aircraft have been cancelled so far on Tuesday. These include AI-143 (Delhi-Paris), AI-159 (Ahmedabad-London Gatwick), AI-915 (Delhi-Dubai), AI-153 (Delhi-Vienna), and AI-133 (Bengaluru-London). In most of these cases, as the flight from India was cancelled, it led to the cancellation of the return leg that was to be operated by the same aircraft. The number may rise further and in some cases, spill over to Wednesday. Following the tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft in Ahmedabad on Thursday, the DGCA had directed the airline to carry out additional maintenance inspections on all 33 of its 787s. The aircraft was operating a flight between Ahmedabad and London Gatwick and had 242 people on board. All but one of those on board perished in the crash. There were several casualties on the ground as well. The enhanced checks ordered by the DGCA include a one-time pre-departure check of aircraft systems and parameters including fuel parameters monitoring and associated system, cabin air compressor and associated systems, electronic engine control system, engine fuel-driven actuator and oil system, hydraulic system serviceability, and take-off parameters. Additionally, flight control inspection was to be introduced in transit inspection till further notice. Power assurance checks were also mandated. On Saturday, Air India had announced that the checks were being performed, and informed passengers that some of these could 'lead to higher turnaround time and potential delays on certain long-haul routes, especially those to airports with operating curfews'. On Tuesday, the carrier's Delhi-Paris flight (AI-143) was cancelled because the 'mandatory pre-flight checks identified an issue'. While the issue was 'being addressed', given that the Paris airport has a night curfew—restrictions on operations at night—the airline had to cancel the flight, Air India said. Consequently, the return flight AI-142 from Paris to Delhi was also cancelled. On the cancellation of flight AI-159 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, an Air India spokesperson said that it was cancelled 'due to the unavailability of the aircraft, resulting from airspace restrictions (in West Asia) and additional precautionary checks, leading to longer than usual turnaround of aircraft'. There was speculation that the flight was cancelled due to a technical snag with the aircraft, but Air India denied that. Consequently, flight AI-170 from London Gatwick to Amritsar was also cancelled as the same aircraft was to operate this flight. Similarly, Delhi-Dubai flight (AI-915) and the return flight (AI-916) were cancelled, and so were the Bengaluru-London flight (AI-133) and its return leg (AI-132). In these cases, too, the aircraft that were to operate these flights were not available due to delays or being deployed on other sectors amid the fleet-wide enhanced checks, per sources. Air India's Delhi-Vienna flight (AI-153) was also cancelled. In addition to these 787-operated flights, the airline's Mumbai-San Francisco flight (AI-179) — operated by a Boeing 777 aircraft — was also cancelled as the plane that had to operate the flight was unavailable due to technical issues. It had developed a snag during a technical halt at the Kolkata airport during its previous flight from San Francisco to Mumbai. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'Airspace restrictions...': Air India cancels Ahmedabad-London flight; airline issues statement
Following a recent fatal Dreamliner crash, Air India's Ahmedabad to London flight AI159 was cancelled due to a technical issue detected before departure. This cancellation occurred as the airline grapples with multiple technical problems across its fleet, including incidents involving flights from San Francisco to Mumbai and Hong Kong to Delhi, raising concerns about operational disruptions. "Flight AI159 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. We are providing hotel accommodation and also offering full refunds on cancellations or complimentary rescheduling if opted by the passengers. Consequently, flight AI170 from London Gatwick to Amritsar on 17th June stands cancelled," Air India said. Show more Show less


New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Air India operations disrupted amid post-crash checks, flight cancellations
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