Following a Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued stringent safety directives, leading to the cancellation of 83 Air India flights over the past six days.

Most of these cancellations involved Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which are used for long-haul international routes. These disruptions have caused significant inconvenience to passengers and impacted the airline’s reputation.

Why were flights cancelled?

On June 12, 2025, Air India flight AI‑171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, crashed just 34 seconds after takeoff above BJ Medical College hostel in Meghani Nagar, Ahmedabad. Out of 242 passengers and crew, 241 lost their lives, and at least 33 people in the hostel also died. It marked the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

In response, the DGCA ordered additional safety inspections on all 33 of Air India’s Boeing 787 aircraft. These rigorous procedures included six types of pre-flight checks: engine-fuel inspections, electronic engine control system tests, cabin air compressor checks, and more. Consequently, between June 12 and 17, Air India had to cancel 83 flights, with 66 of those involving Boeing 787s.

Other cancelled flights and reasons:

Beyond the 787 fleet, Air India had to ground several other aircraft. For example, on June 17 a Boeing 777 was grounded in Kolkata due to a technical glitch. On June 16, flight AI‑315 (Boeing 787‑8) from Hong Kong to New Delhi returned mid-air due to a technical issue; passengers were safely rerouted via alternate arrangements.

Passenger inconvenience and Air India’s response:

These widespread cancellations affected thousands of travelers, especially those on international routes to London, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Hong Kong. Air India stated in a release that per DGCA directives, single-shift safety inspections are underway on their 787 fleet. By June 14, inspections were completed on 9 of the 33 aircraft, and work continues on the remaining 24. The airline has arranged alternative flights for affected passengers and set up a helpline at 1800‑5691‑444 for assistance and queries.