Air India has cancelled its Ahmedabad-to-London Gatwick flight (AI 159) on Tuesday, just days after a catastrophic crash involving a similar service on the same route. The airline attributed the cancellation to airspace restrictions and extended turnaround times due to precautionary safety checks. An Air India spokesperson emphasized there was no technical fault, stating that the delay in aircraft availability prompted the decision. The airline expressed regret over the inconvenience, offering affected passengers hotel accommodation, full refunds, or complimentary rescheduling. A connecting flight, AI 170 from London Gatwick to Amritsar, was also cancelled as a result. Frustrated passengers at the airport voiced dissatisfaction over the lack of timely communication, although authorities confirmed that rerouting options were being arranged.

This cancellation follows the horrifying crash of Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, on June 12, which exploded into flames just seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad. The aircraft slammed into nearby buildings, including a college hostel, killing 241 of 242 people on board and at least 33 people on the ground. The tragedy shocked the nation and drew global attention to safety protocols. In tribute to the victims, the AI 171 call sign has now been retired. Since the crash, multiple India-bound Dreamliners—including those operated by Air India, British Airways, and Lufthansa—have reported emergencies, including mid-air turnbacks due to technical alerts. Among these was a Hong Kong-Delhi Air India flight that returned shortly after takeoff, and another incident on Tuesday involving an Air India San Francisco-Mumbai flight, which was halted in Kolkata due to a left engine issue.

In response to the escalating concerns, the Indian government has launched a high-level investigation. Both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the crashed AI 171 have been recovered, and analysis is underway. Authorities are focusing on whether a possible malfunction of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT)—a key emergency component—could have contributed to the disaster, as preliminary evidence shows it had deployed before impact. A special inquiry committee has been formed to recommend urgent reforms in aircraft inspection protocols, crew readiness, and maintenance oversight. As the public demand for transparency grows, Air India faces increased scrutiny and pressure to restore confidence in its Dreamliner fleet and its operational standards across international sectors.