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Air India crash latest: 66 Boeing Dreamliner flights cancelled since tragedy that killed 270

Indian aviation regulator finds no major safety flaws in Air India Dreamliners but flags maintenance and coordination issues

Maroosha Muzaffar
Wednesday 18 June 2025 08:00 BST
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Moment British survivor of Air India crash walks out of flames

Air India has cancelled 66 Dreamliner flights since the 12 June crash in Ahmedabad, Indian aviation regulator DGCA said on Tuesday.

The airline has also delayed multiple flights serviced by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners following the crash which killed over 270 people.

International routes between India and London, Paris, Vienna, and Dubai were disrupted on Tuesday as Air India halted operations of multiple flights.

It attributed the interruptions to grounded aircraft, technical issues, restricted airspace, and heightened safety protocols.

The DGCA, meanwhile, found no major flaws in Air India’s Dreamliners during an evaluation, but flagged maintenance delays and coordination issues.

Hundreds of people gathered in Mumbai on Tuesday to honour Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot of the ill-fated plane hailed as a hero for limiting casualties on the ground.

Investigators will analyse the cockpit voice recorder of flight AI171, recovered from the wreckage, to help determine the cause of the crash.

Families in India with concerns can call Air India on 1800 5691 444. Those outside India can call the British Foreign Office on 020 7008 5000.

Is flying getting more dangerous? Ask Simon Calder Anything

The heartbreaking crash of Air India flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick has shocked many and raised serious questions about aviation safety, but are fears justified?

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Maroosha Muzaffar18 June 2025 08:00

Crashed aircraft completed two flights before taking off for London Gatwick, regulator says

India’s aviation ministry confirmed that the Air India Boeing 787-8 that crashed on 12 June had completed two earlier flights, Paris to Delhi and Delhi to Ahmedabad, without issues before crashing shortly after takeoff en route to London, killing 241 of 242 on board and dozens on the ground.

The Indian aviation regulator said on Tuesday that Air India’s Dreamliner have no major safety flaws but flagged maintenance and coordination issues.

Aviation regulator said on Tuesday that since last week’s devastating crash, 66 Air India Dreamliner flights have been cancelled, including several international flights as well.

Maroosha Muzaffar18 June 2025 07:30

Regulator asks Air India for training data on pilots and dispatcher of crashed plane

India’s aviation regulator, the DGCA, has requested detailed training records for the pilots and dispatcher of the Air India Dreamliner that crashed last week, killing more than 270 people.

The move is part of a broader investigation into the tragedy, led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

The DGCA also asked flying schools nationwide to carry out compliance checks on safety procedures, training, and coordination, and told airports to hold full-scale emergency drills by 30 June, according to Reuters, which cited a confidential memo seen by them.

An Air India flight scheduled for the same route as the plane that crashed last week has been cancelled (Alamy/PA)
An Air India flight scheduled for the same route as the plane that crashed last week has been cancelled (Alamy/PA)

While no specific concerns have been raised about Air India's operations yet, the requests are standard post-crash procedures.

Maroosha Muzaffar18 June 2025 07:00

India orders nationwide airport emergency drills after devastating Air India crash

In a 13 June memo titled Updating Airport Emergency Plan” and reviewed by Reuters, India’s aviation authorities instructed all government-managed airports to conduct a full-scale emergency training exercise on 30 June.

These drills, which simulate crisis scenarios such as crashes or large-scale evacuations, are a standard component of airport preparedness and safety protocols.

The directive came in the wake of the deadly Air India crash on 12 June in Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives onboard and killed several more on the ground.

Maroosha Muzaffar18 June 2025 06:30

Why did the Air India flight crash? Here’s how experts will investigate the 30-second disaster

Why did the Air India flight crash? Here’s how experts will investigate the 30-second disaster
Maroosha Muzaffar18 June 2025 06:00

Air India cancels 66 Dreamliner flights since the crash that killed more than 270

Since the fatal 12 June crash of an Air India Boeing 787 in Ahmedabad, the DGCA reported that Air India has cancelled 66 Dreamliner flights.

While inspections found no major safety issues with the 787 fleet, the regulator flagged maintenance concerns and urged better coordination across departments.

Most flight cancellations followed intensified inspections after the Ahmedabad crash, The Hindustan Times reported.

The DGCA is continuing its review of Air India and Air India Express operations in the wake of the tragedy.

Maroosha Muzaffar18 June 2025 05:30

India regulator finds no major safety flaws in Air India Dreamliner fleet

India’s aviation regulator, the DGCA, found no major safety flaws in Air India’s Dreamliner fleet after inspecting 24 aircraft, offering some relief amid post-crash scrutiny.

However, it flagged ongoing issues with spare-part delays and poor coordination between departments, warning these could affect reliability.

Despite the concerns, all inspected planes met current safety standards.

An Air India Dreamliner
An Air India Dreamliner

Following the crash, India’s civil aviation minister had ordered extended inspections of all 33 Boeing 787s in the Indian fleet.

Maroosha Muzaffar18 June 2025 04:59

Regulator asks Air India for training data on pilots and dispatcher of crashed plane

India's aviation regulator, the DGCA, has requested detailed training records for the pilots and dispatcher of the Air India Dreamliner that crashed last week, killing more than 270 people.

The move is part of a broader investigation into the tragedy, led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

The DGCA also asked flying schools nationwide to carry out compliance checks on safety procedures, training, and coordination, and told airports to hold full-scale emergency drills by 30 June, according to Reuters, which cited a confidential memo seen by them.

(Getty Images)

While no specific concerns have been raised about Air India's operations yet, the requests are standard post-crash procedures.

Maroosha Muzaffar18 June 2025 04:30

Multiple international flights cancelled as Air India Dreamliners come under scrutiny

Air India has cancelled or delayed multiple international flights operated by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners following last week’s deadly crash that killed more than 270 people.

Several international routes – among them London, Paris, Vienna, and Dubai – were disrupted on Tuesday as Air India halted operations on multiple flights.

The airline attributed the interruptions to a mix of factors: grounded aircraft, technical issues, restricted airspace, and heightened safety protocols.

In the past two days alone, at least three more Dreamliner flights have either been delayed or taken out of service amid intensified inspections mandated by India’s aviation authority, which is scrutinising all 33 of Air India’s Dreamliners.

A Boeing 777 on the San Francisco–Mumbai route was also sidelined due to a mechanical fault.

Maroosha Muzaffar18 June 2025 03:56

WATCH: British wellness couple posted ‘Goodbye India’ video from airport before fatal Air India plane crash

British wellness couple posted ‘Goodbye India’ video from airport before fatal Air India plane crash
Bryony Gooch18 June 2025 03:30

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