Air India flight operating from San Francisco to Delhi via Kolkata was forced to make an emergency landing at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The technical snag was detected during the flight after which the decision to land the flight was made as a precautionary measure said a spokesperson of the airline on Monday.&nbsp;The flight is now undergoing necessary checks and efforts are being made to drop the passengers to their destination at the earliest.&nbsp;"AI174 of 02 November, operating from San Francisco to Delhi via Kolkata, made a precautionary landing at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, after the flight crew suspected a technical issue en route. The aircraft landed safely at Ulaanbaatar and is undergoing the necessary checks, Air India said in a post on X.&nbsp;"We are working closely with our partners to support all passengers while we make efforts to get everyone on their way to the destination at the earliest opportunity. We regret the inconvenience caused to passengers due to the unforeseen situation. At Air India, the safety of passengers and crew remains a top priority," the statement added.&nbsp;As per Flightradar24.com, a Boeing 777 aircraft was operating the flight.&nbsp;There was no immediate update on how many passengers were travelling on the flight.&nbsp;(This is a developing story)

The flight is now undergoing necessary checks and efforts are being made to drop the passengers to their destination at the earliest.

Air India flight operating from San Francisco to Delhi via Kolkata was forced to make an emergency landing at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The technical snag was detected during the flight after which the decision to land the flight was made as a precautionary measure said a spokesperson of the airline on Monday. The flight is now undergoing necessary checks and efforts are being made to drop the passengers to their destination at the earliest. "AI174 of 02 November, operating from San Francisco to Delhi via Kolkata, made a precautionary landing at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, after the flight crew suspected a technical issue en route. The aircraft landed safely at Ulaanbaatar and is undergoing the necessary checks, Air India said in a post on X. "We are working closely with our partners to support all passengers while we make efforts to get everyone on their way to the destination at the earliest opportunity. We regret the inconvenience caused to passengers due to the unforeseen situation. At Air India, the safety of passengers and crew remains a top priority," the statement added. As per Flightradar24.com, a Boeing 777 aircraft was operating the flight. There was no immediate update on how many passengers were travelling on the flight. (This is a developing story)

The flight is now undergoing necessary checks and efforts are being made to drop the passengers to their destination at the earliest.

Air India flight makes emergency landing in Mongolia as technical fault detected

A video from an Air India flight of a woman allegedly threatening a co-passenger for not speaking Marathi has gone viral on social media, sparking outrage. The incident occurred on board an Air India flight from Kolkata to Mumbai on October 23. The video was shared by YouTuber Mahi Khan on his social media platforms, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), where he mentioned how he was harassed by a woman co-passenger for not knowing and speaking Marathi.The entire conversation was recorded by Khan himself, where he also questioned what kind of mentality makes someone impose language rules on another person in the year 2025.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-police-foil-fidayeen-plot-2-isis-terrorists-with-potential-pakistan-isi-ties-arrested-suicide-attack-1761291167225">Delhi Police foil fidayeen plot, 2 ISIS terrorists with potential Pakistan ISI ties arrested</a>In a video that has now gone viral, it all started with Khan asking the woman, “You’re telling me that I need to speak in Marathi?” and the woman replied: “Yes. If you’re going to Mumbai, you should know Marathi.” When asked about her name, she refused to disclose her name on camera.In the video, Khan claimed that he confronted her over her misbehaviour and called the Air India crew for help. In front of the crew, the woman threatened him by saying, “I’ll show you what badtameezi is (I’ll show you what misbehaviour is).”Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-like-watching-a-living-galaxy-unfurl-beneath-you-shubhanshu-shukla-shares-breathtaking-diwali-spectacle-of-india-from-space-station-watch-video-1761020335036">'Like watching a living galaxy unfurl beneath you': Shubhanshu Shukla shares breathtaking Diwali spectacle of India from space station. Watch video</a>Khan further mentioned in his post, “I recorded everything. Because this isn’t just about me, it’s about the mindset that’s growing dangerously normal,” he wrote. “You cannot force a language. You cannot bully respect.”Watch video here:

The video has gone viral, with many online users expressing anger. Some users have even demanded a public apology from the woman, who is yet to be identified. Others, meanwhile, have tagged Air India, urging the airline to take action against the woman and ensure passengers are not subjected to such harassment in the future.

A video of a woman threatening a co-passenger aboard an Air India flight for not speaking Marathi has sparked outrage online. YouTuber Mahi Khan filmed the exchange, where the woman said, “If you’re going to Mumbai, you should know Marathi.” Watch video.

A video from an Air India flight of a woman allegedly threatening a co-passenger for not speaking Marathi has gone viral on social media, sparking outrage. The incident occurred on board an Air India flight from Kolkata to Mumbai on October 23. The video was shared by YouTuber Mahi Khan on his social media platforms, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), where he mentioned how he was harassed by a woman co-passenger for not knowing and speaking Marathi. The entire conversation was recorded by Khan himself, where he also questioned what kind of mentality makes someone impose language rules on another person in the year 2025. Also read | Delhi Police foil fidayeen plot, 2 ISIS terrorists with potential Pakistan ISI ties arrested In a video that has now gone viral, it all started with Khan asking the woman, “You’re telling me that I need to speak in Marathi?” and the woman replied: “Yes. If you’re going to Mumbai, you should know Marathi.” When asked about her name, she refused to disclose her name on camera. In the video, Khan claimed that he confronted her over her misbehaviour and called the Air India crew for help. In front of the crew, the woman threatened him by saying, “I’ll show you what badtameezi is (I’ll show you what misbehaviour is).” Also read | 'Like watching a living galaxy unfurl beneath you': Shubhanshu Shukla shares breathtaking Diwali spectacle of India from space station. Watch video Khan further mentioned in his post, “I recorded everything. Because this isn’t just about me, it’s about the mindset that’s growing dangerously normal,” he wrote. “You cannot force a language. You cannot bully respect.” Watch video here:

A video of a woman threatening a co-passenger aboard an Air India flight for not speaking Marathi has sparked outrage online. YouTuber Mahi Khan filmed the exchange, where the woman said, “If you’re going to Mumbai, you should know Marathi.” Watch video.

Woman threatens YouTuber for not speaking Marathi; sparks outrage on social media. Watch

Another Boeing safety scare. The Ram Air Turbine (RAT) was deployed mid-air on Air India flight AI-117 from Delhi to London due to a suspected hydraulic failure. The incident raises fresh concerns about Boeing aircraft safety, just months after multiple safety-related incidents globally. Is Boeing facing a deeper reliability crisis?

Boeing Faces Safety Questions Again: RAT Deployed On Air India Flight AI-117

BREAKING | Supreme Court Slams Reports Suggesting ‘Pilot Error’ Led To Air India Crash

Air India issued a travel advisory due to a cyberattack. The attack affected check-in systems at major European airports, including London Heathrow. Passengers faced delays. Air India advised passengers flying from London to complete web check-in. Brussels and Berlin airports also reported disruptions. The service provider is working to resolve the issue.


Breaking: Heathrow, Brandenburg & Brussels Airport report delays after Europe-wide cyberattack

The families of four passengers who died on an Air India jet that crashed in June have filed a lawsuit in the US against planemaker Boeing and aircraft parts maker Honeywell, accusing the companies of negligence.


Air India crash victims' families sue aerospace firms Boeing and Honeywell

Ahemdabad plane crash: Boeing sued by Air India crash victim families 

Air India Crash: The fatal Air India crash that killed 260 people has led to a lawsuit targeting Boeing and Honeywell, Claiming faulty fuel switches caused the tragedy. The lawsuit, the first in the U.S. Over this accident, is shedding light on possible mechanical failures and pilot decisions that led to the fatal plummet of air India flight 171.


Air India Crash: Boeing Sued by Crash Victim Families 

- PM Modi to visit Manipur on September 
- Rescue OPs continue in J&k's Ramban
- EC: 1.98 Lakh request for name removal in Bihar 
- Air India plane makes emergency landing in Delhi

Air India: Plane makes emergency landing in Delhi | Rescue OPs continue in J&K's Ramban 

An Air India flight was forced to return to Delhi on Sunday after the pilots received a fire warning in one of the engines soon after take off. In a statement, the airlines said the Flight AI2913, bound for Indore returned to the city after the pilots received a "fire indication" in the right engine of the aircraft.&nbsp;The Air India flight has been grounded and passengers are being moved to a different aircraft, which will soon take off for Indore.&nbsp;"Flight AI2913, operating from Delhi to Indore on August 31, air-returned to Delhi shortly after take off, as the cockpit crew received a fire indication for the right engine," an Air India spokesperson said.&nbsp;Soon after the alarm went out, the crew shut down the affected engine, followed all safety protocols and brought the aircraft back to Delhi.&nbsp;“The aircraft has been grounded for inspection, and passengers are being transferred to an alternative aircraft, which will operate the flight to Indore shortly. The regulator has been duly informed of the incident. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers. At Air India, the safety of passengers and crew is our top priority,” read the statement by Air India.&nbsp;The &nbsp;Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has been informed about the incident, according to the airline.

The Air India flight has been grounded and passengers are being moved to a different aircraft, said Air India spokesperson on the incident.

An Air India flight was forced to return to Delhi on Sunday after the pilots received a fire warning in one of the engines soon after take off. In a statement, the airlines said the Flight AI2913, bound for Indore returned to the city after the pilots received a "fire indication" in the right engine of the aircraft. The Air India flight has been grounded and passengers are being moved to a different aircraft, which will soon take off for Indore. "Flight AI2913, operating from Delhi to Indore on August 31, air-returned to Delhi shortly after take off, as the cockpit crew received a fire indication for the right engine," an Air India spokesperson said. Soon after the alarm went out, the crew shut down the affected engine, followed all safety protocols and brought the aircraft back to Delhi. “The aircraft has been grounded for inspection, and passengers are being transferred to an alternative aircraft, which will operate the flight to Indore shortly. The regulator has been duly informed of the incident. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers. At Air India, the safety of passengers and crew is our top priority,” read the statement by Air India. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has been informed about the incident, according to the airline.

The Air India flight has been grounded and passengers are being moved to a different aircraft, said Air India spokesperson on the incident.

Air India flight bound for Indore returns midway, after fire scare in on of the engines

As heavy rain batters Mumbai, a video of an Air India plane making a safe landing at the city’s airport amid severe weather conditions and low visibility has gone viral on social media. This comes as a red warning was issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as incessant and persistent rain disrupts normal life in Mumbai. Several areas experienced a flood-like situation, affecting daily life and causing inconvenience for the residents.&nbsp;In the video, recorded and posted by a passenger on Tuesday (Aug 19), the plane can be seen making a smooth landing despite low visibility and heavy rainfall. “Mumbai airport landing in the midst of heavy rains,” the user wrote. Praising the pilot of the plane, the caption added, “Hats off to Captain Neeraj Sethi for landing safely with less visibility.”&nbsp;The video showed the aircraft’s wing as it descended towards the runway at Mumbai airport. The plane showed minimal turbulence and made a steady descent despite strong winds and heavy downpours before safely touching down on the tarmac.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mumbai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mumbai</a> airport landing in midst of heavy rains. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MumbaiRains?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MumbaiRains</a> Hats off to Captain Mr. Neeraj Sethi for landing safely with less visibility. <a href="https://twitter.com/airindia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@airindia</a> VT-TNC <a href="https://t.co/khvJTSWnv7">pic.twitter.com/khvJTSWnv7</a>&mdash; 🇮🇳 Vidyasagar Jagadeesan🇮🇳 (@jvidyasagar) <a href="https://twitter.com/jvidyasagar/status/1957666203939533009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Several social media users hailed the pilot’s skilful landing despite adverse weather conditions. “Hats off for the landing,” a person said. Another said, “Full Marks to the Captain!! The True Heroes of Indian Skies!!” A third said, “Very skilful Pilot. Well done.” One user wrote, “Big Salute.”&nbsp;A person stated, “The weather conditions in Mumbai would make the best of Pilots feel relieved on safely reaching their destination. Needless to mention, a Pilot’s job is not everyone’s cup of tea.”&nbsp;While one said, “Real problem will start when u get out of the airport … all roads are waterlogged.” Replying to this comment, the original poster wrote, “It was,” while sharing images of the waterlogged streets of Mumbai due to heavy rains.&nbsp;On Tuesday (Aug 19) morning, more than 250 flights were affected due to the severe weather conditions in the city.&nbsp; Several other residents took to X to share clips of submerged roads, local train tracks, underpasses, and other areas. The disruptions resulted in inconvenience to commuters, bringing the city to a standstill.&nbsp;According to the IMD data, several parts of the city received 200 mm of rain, with Vikhroli in the eastern suburbs recording the highest at 255.5 mm. &nbsp;

An Air India pilot was praised for safely landing the plane amid heavy downpours and strong winds in Mumbai. A video, captured by the passenger, of the smooth landing amid stormy weather has gone viral on social media.

As heavy rain batters Mumbai, a video of an Air India plane making a safe landing at the city’s airport amid severe weather conditions and low visibility has gone viral on social media. This comes as a red warning was issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as incessant and persistent rain disrupts normal life in Mumbai. Several areas experienced a flood-like situation, affecting daily life and causing inconvenience for the residents. In the video, recorded and posted by a passenger on Tuesday (Aug 19), the plane can be seen making a smooth landing despite low visibility and heavy rainfall. “Mumbai airport landing in the midst of heavy rains,” the user wrote. Praising the pilot of the plane, the caption added, “Hats off to Captain Neeraj Sethi for landing safely with less visibility.” The video showed the aircraft’s wing as it descended towards the runway at Mumbai airport. The plane showed minimal turbulence and made a steady descent despite strong winds and heavy downpours before safely touching down on the tarmac.

An Air India pilot was praised for safely landing the plane amid heavy downpours and strong winds in Mumbai. A video, captured by the passenger, of the smooth landing amid stormy weather has gone viral on social media.

‘Hats off’: Air India pilot earns praises for safely landing plane despite heavy rains in Mumbai | WATCH

Air India on Monday (August 11) announced the suspension of non-stop flights from Delhi to Washington from September 1, citing a combination of reasons. They further stressed that the decision has been taken to ensure the integrity of the airline.Air India stated on Monday that the decision is also linked to a planned shortage of aircraft as it retrofits 26 Boeing 787-8 planes."Air India today announced the suspension of its services between Delhi and Washington, D.C., effective September 1, 2025, due to a combination of operational factors, to ensure the reliability and integrity of Air India’s overall route network," the airline said in a statement.<h2>What are the reasons?&nbsp;</h2>It further said that one of the key reasons is the shortage of aircraft.“The suspension is primarily driven by the planned shortfall in Air India’s fleet, as the airline commenced retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month,” Air India said.The retrofitting exercise is prolonged and will take at least till the end of 2026 to be completed.<h2>Pakistan to be blamed?&nbsp;</h2>It further cited the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan as another key reason, saying that it has impacted the airline's long-haul operation.“This extensive retrofit programme, aimed at significantly enhancing customer experience, necessitates a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least the end of 2026. That, coupled with the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts the airline’s long-haul operation,” it further stated.“That, coupled with the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts the airline’s long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity.”Notably, Pakistan closed its airspace for Indian airplanes after India suspended the Indus Water Treaty on April 23, following the Pahalgam terror attack.Air India said that the customers with bookings to or from Washington beyond September 1 will be contacted and offered alternative travel arrangements, like rebooking or full refunds."Air India customers will continue to have the options of one-stop flights to Washington, DC via four US gateways – New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco – with the airline’s interline partners, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, allowing customers to travel on a single itinerary with their baggage checked through to the final destination," it said.

Air India stated on Monday that the decision is also linked to a planned shortage of aircraft as it retrofits 26 Boeing 787-8 planes.

Air India on Monday (August 11) announced the suspension of non-stop flights from Delhi to Washington from September 1, citing a combination of reasons. They further stressed that the decision has been taken to ensure the integrity of the airline. Air India stated on Monday that the decision is also linked to a planned shortage of aircraft as it retrofits 26 Boeing 787-8 planes. "Air India today announced the suspension of its services between Delhi and Washington, D.C., effective September 1, 2025, due to a combination of operational factors, to ensure the reliability and integrity of Air India’s overall route network," the airline said in a statement. What are the reasons? It further said that one of the key reasons is the shortage of aircraft. “The suspension is primarily driven by the planned shortfall in Air India’s fleet, as the airline commenced retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month,” Air India said. The retrofitting exercise is prolonged and will take at least till the end of 2026 to be completed. Pakistan to be blamed? It further cited the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan as another key reason, saying that it has impacted the airline's long-haul operation. “This extensive retrofit programme, aimed at significantly enhancing customer experience, necessitates a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least the end of 2026. That, coupled with the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts the airline’s long-haul operation,” it further stated. “That, coupled with the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts the airline’s long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity.” Notably, Pakistan closed its airspace for Indian airplanes after India suspended the Indus Water Treaty on April 23, following the Pahalgam terror attack. Air India said that the customers with bookings to or from Washington beyond September 1 will be contacted and offered alternative travel arrangements, like rebooking or full refunds. "Air India customers will continue to have the options of one-stop flights to Washington, DC via four US gateways – New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco – with the airline’s interline partners, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, allowing customers to travel on a single itinerary with their baggage checked through to the final destination," it said.

Air India stated on Monday that the decision is also linked to a planned shortage of aircraft as it retrofits 26 Boeing 787-8 planes.

Air India halts Delhi-Washington flights from Sept 1—Is Pakistan to be blamed? Here's what we know

An Air India flight carrying five members of the Indian Parliament, including Congress MP KC Venugopal, was diverted to Chennai on Sunday (Aug 10) night after a suspected technical fault. In a post on X, Venugopal later claimed that in a "heart stopping moment" the aircraft narrowly avoided disaster when "another aircraft was reportedly on the same runway" during its first landing attempt — a claim the airline has rejected.<h2>What happened?</h2>Flight AI 2455 took off from Thiruvananthapuram around 8 pm on August 10, bound for Delhi. Onboard the flight were four Kerala MPs - KC Venugopal, K. Radhakrishnan, Kodikkunnil Suresh, and Adoor Prakash. Tirunelveli MP C. Robert Bruce was also on the flight.In his X post, Venugopal claimed that "Air India flight AI 2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi - carrying myself, several MPs, and hundreds of passengers - came frighteningly close to tragedy today." He said the plane encountered "unprecedented turbulence" shortly after takeoff, adding that about an hour into the flight, the captain reported a flight signal fault and diverted the flight to Chennai.Venugopal claims that the plane circled for nearly two hours before its first landing attempt. "Another aircraft was reportedly on the same runway. In that split second, the Captain's quick decision to pull up saved every life on board. The flight landed safely on the second attempt," he said, calling for a DGCA investigation to "investigate this incident urgently, fix accountability, and ensure such lapses never happen again".<h2>Air India rejects Venugopal's claim</h2>Air India disputed that account, saying the go-around was ordered by Chennai air traffic control " not because of the presence of another aircraft on the runway" but as part of standard procedure in response to "a suspected technical issue and poor weather conditions". The airline said that the pilots "followed standard procedures throughout the flight". The airline said while it understands that "such an experience can be unsettling," safety was "always our priority".

After an Air India flight carrying five MPs, including KC Venugopal, was diverted to Chennai, the MP has claimed that the flight survived a near-miss with another aircraft. However, Air India has denied this. Here's all you need to know.

An Air India flight carrying five members of the Indian Parliament, including Congress MP KC Venugopal, was diverted to Chennai on Sunday (Aug 10) night after a suspected technical fault. In a post on X, Venugopal later claimed that in a "heart stopping moment" the aircraft narrowly avoided disaster when "another aircraft was reportedly on the same runway" during its first landing attempt — a claim the airline has rejected. What happened? Flight AI 2455 took off from Thiruvananthapuram around 8 pm on August 10, bound for Delhi. Onboard the flight were four Kerala MPs - KC Venugopal, K. Radhakrishnan, Kodikkunnil Suresh, and Adoor Prakash. Tirunelveli MP C. Robert Bruce was also on the flight. In his X post, Venugopal claimed that "Air India flight AI 2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi - carrying myself, several MPs, and hundreds of passengers - came frighteningly close to tragedy today." He said the plane encountered "unprecedented turbulence" shortly after takeoff, adding that about an hour into the flight, the captain reported a flight signal fault and diverted the flight to Chennai. Venugopal claims that the plane circled for nearly two hours before its first landing attempt. "Another aircraft was reportedly on the same runway. In that split second, the Captain's quick decision to pull up saved every life on board. The flight landed safely on the second attempt," he said, calling for a DGCA investigation to "investigate this incident urgently, fix accountability, and ensure such lapses never happen again". Air India rejects Venugopal's claim Air India disputed that account, saying the go-around was ordered by Chennai air traffic control " not because of the presence of another aircraft on the runway" but as part of standard procedure in response to "a suspected technical issue and poor weather conditions". The airline said that the pilots "followed standard procedures throughout the flight". The airline said while it understands that "such an experience can be unsettling," safety was "always our priority".

After an Air India flight carrying five MPs, including KC Venugopal, was diverted to Chennai, the MP has claimed that the flight survived a near-miss with another aircraft. However, Air India has denied this. Here's all you need to know.

'Another plane on runway’: Did MP KC Venugopal's flight to Delhi narrowly avoid disaster? Air India denies near-miss claim

Air India's Boeing flight, bound from Delhi to London, aborted takeoff at the Delhi airport on Thursday (July 31) due to a technical issue. The cockpit crew halted the takeoff and carried out precautionary checks as per the standard protocols.The airline spokesperson issued a statement, saying that the cockpit crew decided to discontinue the takeoff for precautionary checks.“Flight AI2017 operating from Delhi to London on 31 July returned to the bay due to a suspected technical issue. The cockpit crew decided to discontinue the take-off run following standard operating procedures and brought the aircraft back for precautionary checks," an Air India spokesperson said.The spokesperson added that an alternative aircraft is being deployed to fly the passengers to London at the earliest."Our ground staff is extending all support and care to the guests to minimise inconvenience caused due to this unexpected delay. At Air India, the safety and well-being of our passengers remain the top priority," the spokesperson said.However, the details of the passengers could not be ascertained yet.According to reports, India’s aviation regulator has found 51 safety violations at Air India over the past year during its annual inspection of all commercial airlines. Although not linked to last month’s fatal Boeing 787 crash that killed 260 people, the audit findings have renewed scrutiny of the national carrier.According to the audit, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) flagged 263 safety issues across eight Indian airlines. &nbsp;Of these, Air India had the second-highest number of lapses (51), including seven Level 1 findings, the most serious classification, and 44 Level 2 lapses.Later, Air India responded to the safety violations as the spokesperson said the airline was “fully transparent” during the audit process and added that these checks are routine for all airlines.“We acknowledge receipt of the findings and will submit our response to the regulator within the stipulated time frame, along with the details of the corrective actions taken,” the airline said.

The airline spokesperson issued a statement, saying that the cockpit crew decided to discontinue the takeoff for precautionary checks.

Air India's Boeing flight, bound from Delhi to London, aborted takeoff at the Delhi airport on Thursday (July 31) due to a technical issue. The cockpit crew halted the takeoff and carried out precautionary checks as per the standard protocols. The airline spokesperson issued a statement, saying that the cockpit crew decided to discontinue the takeoff for precautionary checks. “Flight AI2017 operating from Delhi to London on 31 July returned to the bay due to a suspected technical issue. The cockpit crew decided to discontinue the take-off run following standard operating procedures and brought the aircraft back for precautionary checks," an Air India spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that an alternative aircraft is being deployed to fly the passengers to London at the earliest. "Our ground staff is extending all support and care to the guests to minimise inconvenience caused due to this unexpected delay. At Air India, the safety and well-being of our passengers remain the top priority," the spokesperson said. However, the details of the passengers could not be ascertained yet. According to reports, India’s aviation regulator has found 51 safety violations at Air India over the past year during its annual inspection of all commercial airlines. Although not linked to last month’s fatal Boeing 787 crash that killed 260 people, the audit findings have renewed scrutiny of the national carrier. According to the audit, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) flagged 263 safety issues across eight Indian airlines. Of these, Air India had the second-highest number of lapses (51), including seven Level 1 findings, the most serious classification, and 44 Level 2 lapses. Later, Air India responded to the safety violations as the spokesperson said the airline was “fully transparent” during the audit process and added that these checks are routine for all airlines. “We acknowledge receipt of the findings and will submit our response to the regulator within the stipulated time frame, along with the details of the corrective actions taken,” the airline said.

The airline spokesperson issued a statement, saying that the cockpit crew decided to discontinue the takeoff for precautionary checks.

Air India flight aborts take off: Delhi-London flight returns to bay - Here's what we know

India’s aviation regulator has found 51 safety violations at Air India over the past year during its annual inspection of all commercial airlines. Although not linked to last month’s fatal Boeing 787 crash that killed 260 people, the audit findings have renewed scrutiny of the national carrier.<h2>What did the audit find?</h2>The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) flagged 263 safety issues across eight Indian airlines. Of these, Air India had the second-highest number of lapses (51), including seven Level 1 findings, the most serious classification, and 44 Level 2 lapses. Under UN aviation standards, Level 1 issues show non-compliance that could “seriously endanger safety”, while Level 2 refers to safety gaps that “could lower or possibly hazard safety”.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-trucks-launchpad-for-russian-kamikaze-drones-how-american-pickup-trucks-are-helping-russia-bomb-ukraine-despite-sanctions-1753831024342">US trucks launchpad for Russian Kamikaze drones? How American pickup trucks are helping Russia bomb Ukraine, despite sanctions</a>Such findings can lead to immediate actions, including suspension or revocation of an airline’s operating approvals. Airlines are generally given three months to address the issues. The DGCA said it conducts such audits as part of its Annual Surveillance Plan to identify safety concerns and encourage improvements.<h2>Air India responds to safety violations</h2>An Air India spokesperson said the airline was “fully transparent” during the audit process and added that these checks are routine for all airlines. “We acknowledge receipt of the findings and will submit our response to the regulator within the stipulated time frame, along with the details of the corrective actions taken,” the airline said.The DGCA also clarified that it is normal for large airlines to have more observations due to the size and complexity of their operations. “It should be emphasised that, for airlines with extensive operations and large fleet sizes, a higher number of audit findings is entirely normal,” the regulator noted.<h2>Specific lapses at Air India remain unclear</h2>While the audit report itself has not been released, a government document cited by Reuters pointed to serious issues within Air India’s operations. These included gaps in pilot training, use of unapproved simulators, and poor pilot rostering. The report highlighted “recurrent training gaps” among Boeing 787 and 777 pilots who reportedly missed mandatory monitoring duties.<h2>Previous safety issues and growing scrutiny</h2>Earlier this year, Reuters also reported that Air India’s low-cost arm, Air India Express, was reprimanded by the DGCA for delaying the replacement of a critical engine part on an Airbus A320 and falsifying records to show compliance.Air India Express admitted the fault and told regulators it had taken “remedial action and preventive measures”. DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai told the BBC that this information came from the airline itself through “self-reporting”. “I would not condone it [the lapses]. But [at least] we have started getting these reports. India’s skies have always been safe,” Kidwai said.<h2>India’s safety record: Better than global average?</h2>Despite the findings, Mr Kidwai defended India’s aviation safety record, citing UN data that shows India has mostly performed better than the global average for accidents per million flights. “Only twice between 2010 and 2024 did we exceed the global average, both years with major accidents,” he said.India has faced three major crashes in 15 years:• June 2025: An Air India Boeing 787 crash killed 260 people.• August 2020: An Air India Express flight skidded off a wet runway in Kozhikode, killing 21.• May 2010: A Dubai–Mangalore flight overshot the runway, killing 158.Meanwhile, between 2020 and early 2025, Indian carriers reported 2,461 technical snags, including 1,288 by IndiGo, 633 by SpiceJet, and 389 combined by Air India and Air India Express. Kidwai said the rise in reported faults was a good sign. “I wouldn’t say I’m pleased about it. But I do see value in the growing culture of reporting. It’s far better for every snag to be brought to the attention of the authorities than keeping quiet and operating the aircraft.”

India’s aviation regulator found 51 safety violations at Air India, including seven serious Level 1 lapses, raising concerns after a fatal crash, though the issues weren’t directly linked.

India’s aviation regulator has found 51 safety violations at Air India over the past year during its annual inspection of all commercial airlines. Although not linked to last month’s fatal Boeing 787 crash that killed 260 people, the audit findings have renewed scrutiny of the national carrier. What did the audit find? The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) flagged 263 safety issues across eight Indian airlines. Of these, Air India had the second-highest number of lapses (51), including seven Level 1 findings, the most serious classification, and 44 Level 2 lapses. Under UN aviation standards, Level 1 issues show non-compliance that could “seriously endanger safety”, while Level 2 refers to safety gaps that “could lower or possibly hazard safety”. Also read: US trucks launchpad for Russian Kamikaze drones? How American pickup trucks are helping Russia bomb Ukraine, despite sanctions Such findings can lead to immediate actions, including suspension or revocation of an airline’s operating approvals. Airlines are generally given three months to address the issues. The DGCA said it conducts such audits as part of its Annual Surveillance Plan to identify safety concerns and encourage improvements. Air India responds to safety violations An Air India spokesperson said the airline was “fully transparent” during the audit process and added that these checks are routine for all airlines. “We acknowledge receipt of the findings and will submit our response to the regulator within the stipulated time frame, along with the details of the corrective actions taken,” the airline said. The DGCA also clarified that it is normal for large airlines to have more observations due to the size and complexity of their operations. “It should be emphasised that, for airlines with extensive operations and large fleet sizes, a higher number of audit findings is entirely normal,” the regulator noted. Specific lapses at Air India remain unclear While the audit report itself has not been released, a government document cited by Reuters pointed to serious issues within Air India’s operations. These included gaps in pilot training, use of unapproved simulators, and poor pilot rostering. The report highlighted “recurrent training gaps” among Boeing 787 and 777 pilots who reportedly missed mandatory monitoring duties. Previous safety issues and growing scrutiny Earlier this year, Reuters also reported that Air India’s low-cost arm, Air India Express, was reprimanded by the DGCA for delaying the replacement of a critical engine part on an Airbus A320 and falsifying records to show compliance. Air India Express admitted the fault and told regulators it had taken “remedial action and preventive measures”. DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai told the BBC that this information came from the airline itself through “self-reporting”. “I would not condone it [the lapses]. But [at least] we have started getting these reports. India’s skies have always been safe,” Kidwai said. India’s safety record: Better than global average? Despite the findings, Mr Kidwai defended India’s aviation safety record, citing UN data that shows India has mostly performed better than the global average for accidents per million flights. “Only twice between 2010 and 2024 did we exceed the global average, both years with major accidents,” he said. India has faced three major crashes in 15 years: • June 2025: An Air India Boeing 787 crash killed 260 people. • August 2020: An Air India Express flight skidded off a wet runway in Kozhikode, killing 21. • May 2010: A Dubai–Mangalore flight overshot the runway, killing 158. Meanwhile, between 2020 and early 2025, Indian carriers reported 2,461 technical snags, including 1,288 by IndiGo, 633 by SpiceJet, and 389 combined by Air India and Air India Express. Kidwai said the rise in reported faults was a good sign. “I wouldn’t say I’m pleased about it. But I do see value in the growing culture of reporting. It’s far better for every snag to be brought to the attention of the authorities than keeping quiet and operating the aircraft.”

India’s aviation regulator found 51 safety violations at Air India, including seven serious Level 1 lapses, raising concerns after a fatal crash, though the issues weren’t directly linked.

‘Appalling lapses’: 263 safety faults across Indian airlines; Air India among worst-hit, says DGCA audit

In another concerning incident, an Air India Flight AI315 travelling from Hong Kong to Delhi on Tuesday (Jul 22) caught fire in its auxiliary power unit (APU) shortly after landing. The fire was detected after the plane was parked at the gate and the passengers had started disembarking, the airline said in a statement. All passengers and crew members are safe and have disembarked the aircraft normally. Some damage has been reported to the aircraft. The statement added that the aircraft has been grounded for further investigation.&nbsp;“Flight AI315, operating from Hong Kong to Delhi on 22 July 2025, experienced an auxiliary power unit (APU) fire shortly after it had landed and parked at the gate. The incident occurred while passengers had begun disembarking, and the APU was automatically shut down as per system design,” Air India said in a statement on X.&nbsp;It further added, “There was some damage to the aircraft, however, passengers and crew members disembarked normally, and are safe. The aircraft has been grounded for further investigations and the regulator has been duly notified.”&nbsp; &nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Flight AI315, operating from Hong Kong to Delhi on 22 July 2025, experienced an auxiliary power unit (APU) fire shortly after it had landed and parked at the gate. The incident occurred while passengers had begun disembarking, and the APU was automatically shut down as per system…&mdash; Air India (@airindia) <a href="https://twitter.com/airindia/status/1947640061568168382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Recently, there have been several reports of aircraft facing technical issues. The incident comes amid increased scrutiny of Air India following the deadly Ahmedabad crash on June 12 that killed 260 people. Since the devastating disaster, concerns have been raised over airline’s maintenance and checks of their aircraft.&nbsp;On Monday (Jul 21), an Air India flight from Delhi to Kolkata was cancelled after a technical issue was detected while the aircraft was accelerating on the runway at 155 km per hour. As per a NDTV report, the incident occurred at Delhi airport and involved an Airbus A321 aircraft with 160 passengers on board. The flight, scheduled to depart around 7:30 pm. All passengers were safely deboarded following the aborted takeoff. &nbsp;

All passengers and crew members are safe and have disembarked the aircraft normally. Some damage has been reported to the aircraft. The statement added that the aircraft has been grounded for further investigation.

In another concerning incident, an Air India Flight AI315 travelling from Hong Kong to Delhi on Tuesday (Jul 22) caught fire in its auxiliary power unit (APU) shortly after landing. The fire was detected after the plane was parked at the gate and the passengers had started disembarking, the airline said in a statement. All passengers and crew members are safe and have disembarked the aircraft normally. Some damage has been reported to the aircraft. The statement added that the aircraft has been grounded for further investigation. “Flight AI315, operating from Hong Kong to Delhi on 22 July 2025, experienced an auxiliary power unit (APU) fire shortly after it had landed and parked at the gate. The incident occurred while passengers had begun disembarking, and the APU was automatically shut down as per system design,” Air India said in a statement on X. It further added, “There was some damage to the aircraft, however, passengers and crew members disembarked normally, and are safe. The aircraft has been grounded for further investigations and the regulator has been duly notified.”

All passengers and crew members are safe and have disembarked the aircraft normally. Some damage has been reported to the aircraft. The statement added that the aircraft has been grounded for further investigation.

Air India Hong Kong to Delhi flight catches fire shortly after landing; plane grounded for investigation

An Air India flight from Kochi to Mumbai had a scare on Monday (July 21) after it skidded on the runway while landing amid heavy rains. The aircraft, operating as flight AI2744, slipped during touchdown but was quickly brought under control by the pilots. All passengers and crew members onboard were safe and have since deboarded the aircraft. Information on injuries, if any, is still awaited. The plane has been grounded and will undergo technical checks. In a brief statement, an Air India spokesperson said, "The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority." In recent days, Mumbai has seen intense monsoon rain, which has led to waterlogging and delays across the city, including at its busy international airport.<h2>What did Air India say about the incident?</h2>In its statement, Air India said, “Flight AI2744, operating from Kochi to Mumbai on 21 July 2025, experienced heavy rain during landing, resulting in a runway excursion after touchdown. The aircraft taxied safely to the gate and all passengers and crew members have since disembarked. The aircraft has been grounded for checks. The safety of passengers and crew remain our top priority”.<h2>Was the plane damaged?</h2>As per a Hindustan Times report citing unnamed sources, three tyres of the aircraft may have burst during the landing. Minor damage has also been reported to the runway. In a statement, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport confirmed that "An incoming aircraft from Kochi experienced a runway excursion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai at 09.27 hours on 21 July 2025". It said that emergency response teams were "immediately activated to manage the runway excursions," adding, "There are minor damages reported to the airport's primary runway - 09/27. In order to ensure continuity of operations, the Secondary Runway 14/32 has been activated. At CSMIA, safety always remains our highest priority". &nbsp;&nbsp;(More to follow)

The plane has been grounded and will undergo technical checks. In a brief statement, an Air India spokesperson said, "The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority." 

An Air India flight from Kochi to Mumbai had a scare on Monday (July 21) after it skidded on the runway while landing amid heavy rains. The aircraft, operating as flight AI2744, slipped during touchdown but was quickly brought under control by the pilots. All passengers and crew members onboard were safe and have since deboarded the aircraft. Information on injuries, if any, is still awaited. The plane has been grounded and will undergo technical checks. In a brief statement, an Air India spokesperson said, "The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority." In recent days, Mumbai has seen intense monsoon rain, which has led to waterlogging and delays across the city, including at its busy international airport. What did Air India say about the incident? In its statement, Air India said, “Flight AI2744, operating from Kochi to Mumbai on 21 July 2025, experienced heavy rain during landing, resulting in a runway excursion after touchdown. The aircraft taxied safely to the gate and all passengers and crew members have since disembarked. The aircraft has been grounded for checks. The safety of passengers and crew remain our top priority”. Was the plane damaged? As per a Hindustan Times report citing unnamed sources, three tyres of the aircraft may have burst during the landing. Minor damage has also been reported to the runway. In a statement, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport confirmed that "An incoming aircraft from Kochi experienced a runway excursion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai at 09.27 hours on 21 July 2025". It said that emergency response teams were "immediately activated to manage the runway excursions," adding, "There are minor damages reported to the airport's primary runway - 09/27. In order to ensure continuity of operations, the Secondary Runway 14/32 has been activated. At CSMIA, safety always remains our highest priority". (More to follow)

The plane has been grounded and will undergo technical checks. In a brief statement, an Air India spokesperson said, "The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority."&nbsp;

Air India flight from Kochi to Mumbai skids during landing amid heavy rain; aircraft grounded

The fatal Air India crash last month resuscitated a decade-long controversy in the airline industry over installing video cameras monitoring airline pilot actions to complement the cockpit voice and flight data recorders already employed by crash investigators. One of the world's most powerful voices in the industry, International Air Transport Association chief Willie Walsh, a former pilot, on Wednesday (July 16) said that there was an excellent case for equipping airliner cockpits with video cameras to record pilots' actions to complement voice and flight data recorders currently employed by accident investigators.&nbsp;Aviation analysts have said an initial report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) raised doubts about whether one of the pilots on Air India flight 171 cut off fuel to the Boeing 787's engines seconds after takeoff, resulting in an irrecoverable situation.&nbsp;The crash at Ahmedabad, India, killed 241 of the 242 passengers, and several individuals on the ground. To date, "given what little we know at this point, it's more than likely that a video recording, along with the voice recording would really help the investigators to carry out that investigation on the matter of mental health," Walsh was quoted saying in an interview.&nbsp;Advocates of cockpit video cameras argue that the images would provide details missing from the audio and data recorders, while critics argue that privacy issues and abuse potential overshadow what they say are minor benefits for investigations. Video evidence was "invaluable" to Australian crash investigators deciding what caused Robinson R66 helicopter disintegration in flight in 2023, which killed the pilot, the sole occupant, in the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's final report, released 18 days after Air India crash.&nbsp;The footage showed "the pilot was engaged in non-flying related activities for much of this period, namely mobile phone use and the drinking and eating of food," the report said. The ATSB praised Robinson Helicopters for making the factory-installed cameras available and said it urged other manufacturers and owners to take into consideration the ongoing safety advantage of similar equipment.&nbsp;In 2000, US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Jim Hall called on the Federal Aviation Administration to mandate commercial airliners be fitted with cockpit image recorders.Hall made the suggestion following 1999's Egyptair Flight 990 crash, when the first officer deliberately crashed the Boeing 767, the NTSB said, killing all 217 aboard. "In the weighing of privacy vs. security, the scale is tipped in favor of security, categorically," air safety expert and retired commercial airline pilot John Nance said. "Guarding the flying public is a sacred trust."&nbsp;Another expert in aviation safety, Anthony Brickhouse, said that as an accident investigator, he supports cockpit video, but recognised that there are real concerns on the part of commercial pilots.Video of Air India flight 171 "would have provided answers to many questions," he said. Air India refused to comment on the matter. India's AAIB, under global regulations, is to come out with a final report within a year of the crash, but did not respond to a request for comment.

Could cockpit cameras have made a difference in Air India crash probe? Experts have their say

The fatal Air India crash last month resuscitated a decade-long controversy in the airline industry over installing video cameras monitoring airline pilot actions to complement the cockpit voice and flight data recorders already employed by crash investigators. One of the world's most powerful voices in the industry, International Air Transport Association chief Willie Walsh, a former pilot, on Wednesday (July 16) said that there was an excellent case for equipping airliner cockpits with video cameras to record pilots' actions to complement voice and flight data recorders currently employed by accident investigators. Aviation analysts have said an initial report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) raised doubts about whether one of the pilots on Air India flight 171 cut off fuel to the Boeing 787's engines seconds after takeoff, resulting in an irrecoverable situation. The crash at Ahmedabad, India, killed 241 of the 242 passengers, and several individuals on the ground. To date, "given what little we know at this point, it's more than likely that a video recording, along with the voice recording would really help the investigators to carry out that investigation on the matter of mental health," Walsh was quoted saying in an interview. Advocates of cockpit video cameras argue that the images would provide details missing from the audio and data recorders, while critics argue that privacy issues and abuse potential overshadow what they say are minor benefits for investigations. Video evidence was "invaluable" to Australian crash investigators deciding what caused Robinson R66 helicopter disintegration in flight in 2023, which killed the pilot, the sole occupant, in the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's final report, released 18 days after Air India crash. The footage showed "the pilot was engaged in non-flying related activities for much of this period, namely mobile phone use and the drinking and eating of food," the report said. The ATSB praised Robinson Helicopters for making the factory-installed cameras available and said it urged other manufacturers and owners to take into consideration the ongoing safety advantage of similar equipment. In 2000, US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Jim Hall called on the Federal Aviation Administration to mandate commercial airliners be fitted with cockpit image recorders. Hall made the suggestion following 1999's Egyptair Flight 990 crash, when the first officer deliberately crashed the Boeing 767, the NTSB said, killing all 217 aboard. "In the weighing of privacy vs. security, the scale is tipped in favor of security, categorically," air safety expert and retired commercial airline pilot John Nance said. "Guarding the flying public is a sacred trust." Another expert in aviation safety, Anthony Brickhouse, said that as an accident investigator, he supports cockpit video, but recognised that there are real concerns on the part of commercial pilots. Video of Air India flight 171 "would have provided answers to many questions," he said. Air India refused to comment on the matter. India's AAIB, under global regulations, is to come out with a final report within a year of the crash, but did not respond to a request for comment.

Aviation experts have said a preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau raised questions over whether one of the pilots of Air India flight 171 cut off fuel to the Boeing 787’s engines seconds after takeoff, leading to an irrecoverable situation

Air India crash report: Reacting to a Western media report that claimed the captain of the crashed Air India plane had switched off the fuel switches of the aircraft seconds after takeoff, Captain CS Randhawa, the president of the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), said on Thursday that Indian pilots are the best in the world. He also warned that he would take legal action against the media house that published the report.&nbsp;Randhawa said the AAIB probe report on the plane crash, which killed 260 people, had not mentioned that the fuel control switches were turned off because of the pilot's mistake. He condemned the article and said media houses must refrain from giving their opinion on the matter.&nbsp;"Nowhere in the report has it been mentioned that the fuel control switch was turned off due to the pilot's mistake. I condemn the article by the Wall Street Journal. They said it was the pilot's mistake. They have not read the report properly, and we will take action against them through FIP. We had issued a press statement yesterday that no channel, commentator, or president of any agency should give such an opinion that has no basis...Indian pilots are among the best in the world. I did not give my opinion to the Wall Street Journal, which had approached me as well, because I am against this American media. They are deliberately giving their own opinion, their own views from this report, while there is nothing like this in the report. So I very strongly condemn this report of the Wall Street Journal, and we will take action on it," he said.&nbsp;The report, citing cockpit recording, claimed that the captain of the ill-fated flight had turned off the switches that controlled fuel flowing to the plane's engines. The Wall Street Journal report cited people familiar with US officials' early assessment of evidence uncovered in the investigation.&nbsp;The recording suggested that the first officer, who was flying the Boeing aircraft, asked the more experienced captain why he moved the switches to the "cutoff" position, it said.&nbsp;AAIB had also mentioned the conversation in the cockpit seconds before the crash. However, it refrained from concluding who said what.&nbsp;The two pilots involved were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, who had total flying experience of 15,638 hours and 3,403 hours, respectively.

Captain CS Randhawa, the president of the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), said on Thursday that Indian pilots are the best in the world.

Air India crash report: Reacting to a Western media report that claimed the captain of the crashed Air India plane had switched off the fuel switches of the aircraft seconds after takeoff, Captain CS Randhawa, the president of the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), said on Thursday that Indian pilots are the best in the world. He also warned that he would take legal action against the media house that published the report. Randhawa said the AAIB probe report on the plane crash, which killed 260 people, had not mentioned that the fuel control switches were turned off because of the pilot's mistake. He condemned the article and said media houses must refrain from giving their opinion on the matter. "Nowhere in the report has it been mentioned that the fuel control switch was turned off due to the pilot's mistake. I condemn the article by the Wall Street Journal. They said it was the pilot's mistake. They have not read the report properly, and we will take action against them through FIP. We had issued a press statement yesterday that no channel, commentator, or president of any agency should give such an opinion that has no basis...Indian pilots are among the best in the world. I did not give my opinion to the Wall Street Journal, which had approached me as well, because I am against this American media. They are deliberately giving their own opinion, their own views from this report, while there is nothing like this in the report. So I very strongly condemn this report of the Wall Street Journal, and we will take action on it," he said. The report, citing cockpit recording, claimed that the captain of the ill-fated flight had turned off the switches that controlled fuel flowing to the plane's engines. The Wall Street Journal report cited people familiar with US officials' early assessment of evidence uncovered in the investigation. The recording suggested that the first officer, who was flying the Boeing aircraft, asked the more experienced captain why he moved the switches to the "cutoff" position, it said. AAIB had also mentioned the conversation in the cockpit seconds before the crash. However, it refrained from concluding who said what. The two pilots involved were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, who had total flying experience of 15,638 hours and 3,403 hours, respectively.

Air India crash: The AAIB probe report on the plane crash, which killed 260 people, had not mentioned that the fuel control switches were turned off because of the pilot's mistake.

Air India crash: Pilots' body slams report claiming captain turned off fuel switches

Days after an&nbsp;AAIB probe&nbsp;into the Air India plane crash said that the fuel switches were cut off seconds before the accident that killed 260 people, a media report has claimed it was the captain of the flight who shut off the switch, cutting off power to the two engines. The report, citing people familiar with&nbsp;the US officials' early assessment of evidence uncovered in the investigation into the crash, stated that the first officer asked the plane's captain why he had switched off the fuel. The captain, the more experienced pilot, replied that he hadn't switched off the cutoff switches.&nbsp;According to the WSJ report, the first officer panicked upon learning that the captain had allegedly shut off the engines. The captain, however, remained calm.&nbsp;Without fuel flowing to the engines, the plane began to lose thrust and sank. After the crash, both fuel switches were found in the run position, indicating the last-ditch effort to revive the aircraft's engines before it plunged into a hostel in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;The AAIB report hadn't identified which pilot said what. However, it noted the above-mentioned conversation between them. The report didn't conclusively say that the shutdown of the fuel switches led to one of the worst plane crashes in the history of modern aviation.&nbsp;The plane was being captained by Sumeet Sabharwal, an aviation veteran with thousands of flying hours under his belt. Clive Kunder was in his early 30s. Kunder was actively flying the plane, noted the report, and had his hands full. Sabharwal, as the pilot monitoring, would have been more likely to have had his hands free as he oversaw the operation, it added.&nbsp;The two switches were moved to the cut-off position after a gap of one second. They were turned back on after 10 seconds.&nbsp;241 passengers and crew, and 19 people on the ground were killed in the plane crash. One person miraculously survived.&nbsp;An Air India official said on Wednesday that Air India had completed the precautionary inspection of the locking mechanism of fuel control switches (FCS) on all the Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet and found no problems. The inspection was carried out after a directive from the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), earlier this week, which asked all airlines operating Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft to examine the fuel switch locking systems by July 21.

Days after an AAIB probe into the Air India plane crash said that the fuel switches were cut off seconds before the accident that killed 260 people, a media report has claimed it was the captain of the flight who shut off the switch, cutting off power to the two engines. 

Days after an AAIB probe into the Air India plane crash said that the fuel switches were cut off seconds before the accident that killed 260 people, a media report has claimed it was the captain of the flight who shut off the switch, cutting off power to the two engines. The report, citing people familiar with the US officials' early assessment of evidence uncovered in the investigation into the crash, stated that the first officer asked the plane's captain why he had switched off the fuel. The captain, the more experienced pilot, replied that he hadn't switched off the cutoff switches. According to the WSJ report, the first officer panicked upon learning that the captain had allegedly shut off the engines. The captain, however, remained calm. Without fuel flowing to the engines, the plane began to lose thrust and sank. After the crash, both fuel switches were found in the run position, indicating the last-ditch effort to revive the aircraft's engines before it plunged into a hostel in Ahmedabad. The AAIB report hadn't identified which pilot said what. However, it noted the above-mentioned conversation between them. The report didn't conclusively say that the shutdown of the fuel switches led to one of the worst plane crashes in the history of modern aviation. The plane was being captained by Sumeet Sabharwal, an aviation veteran with thousands of flying hours under his belt. Clive Kunder was in his early 30s. Kunder was actively flying the plane, noted the report, and had his hands full. Sabharwal, as the pilot monitoring, would have been more likely to have had his hands free as he oversaw the operation, it added. The two switches were moved to the cut-off position after a gap of one second. They were turned back on after 10 seconds. 241 passengers and crew, and 19 people on the ground were killed in the plane crash. One person miraculously survived. An Air India official said on Wednesday that Air India had completed the precautionary inspection of the locking mechanism of fuel control switches (FCS) on all the Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet and found no problems. The inspection was carried out after a directive from the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), earlier this week, which asked all airlines operating Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft to examine the fuel switch locking systems by July 21.

Air India crash: The AAIB report hadn't identified which pilot said what. However, it noted the above-mentioned conversation between them.

Who cut off the crashed Air India plane's fuel switches? Report makes startling claim

A Washington-bound Air India flight was grounded during its fueling stop in Vienna after a technical issue came to light during a routine maintenance check, the airline said on Thursday (Jul 3). Flight AI103, which took off from New Delhi at 12:45 am on Wednesday (Jul 2), was scheduled to depart for Washington the same day. However, the flight was cancelled due to a technical snag.&nbsp;“Flight AI103 from Delhi to Washington, DC, on July 2, 2025, made a planned fuel stop in Vienna. During routine aircraft checks, an extended maintenance task was identified, which required rectification before the next flight and, thus, additional time for completion,” an airline spokesperson was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.&nbsp;After experiencing the issue, the Vienna-Washington leg of the flight was cancelled as rectification of the issues was needed before the flight could take off. An Air India spokesperson said that passengers were disembarked. Those holding valid Schengen visas or eligible for visa-free entry were accommodated in hotels. The rest of the passengers were assisted based on immigration and security clearance procedures by the Austrian authorities.&nbsp;The Air India flight AI104, from Washington to Delhi via Vienna, was also cancelled. “Passengers have been rebooked on alternative flights to Delhi or offered full refunds based on their preferences,” the airline said.&nbsp;Air India expressed regret over the inconvenience caused and said it was acting in line with its voluntary enhanced pre-flight safety checks. “The carrier deeply regrets the inconvenience caused and remains committed to prioritising the safety of all passengers and crew,” the spokesperson said.&nbsp;In another incident, another Air India plane travelling from Delhi to Vienna experienced a technical snag. The aircraft dropped nearly 900 feet mid-air shortly after takeoff. A spokesperson of the airline said on Tuesday (Jul 7) that an investigation is underway and both pilots have been grounded. The incident occurred on Jun 14, about 38 hours after the London-bound Air India flight crashed in Ahmedabad, killing over 260 people.

After experiencing the issue, the Vienna-Washington leg of the flight was cancelled as rectification of the issues was needed before the flight could take off. An Air India spokesperson said that passengers were disembarked. 

A Washington-bound Air India flight was grounded during its fueling stop in Vienna after a technical issue came to light during a routine maintenance check, the airline said on Thursday (Jul 3). Flight AI103, which took off from New Delhi at 12:45 am on Wednesday (Jul 2), was scheduled to depart for Washington the same day. However, the flight was cancelled due to a technical snag. “Flight AI103 from Delhi to Washington, DC, on July 2, 2025, made a planned fuel stop in Vienna. During routine aircraft checks, an extended maintenance task was identified, which required rectification before the next flight and, thus, additional time for completion,” an airline spokesperson was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. After experiencing the issue, the Vienna-Washington leg of the flight was cancelled as rectification of the issues was needed before the flight could take off. An Air India spokesperson said that passengers were disembarked. Those holding valid Schengen visas or eligible for visa-free entry were accommodated in hotels. The rest of the passengers were assisted based on immigration and security clearance procedures by the Austrian authorities. The Air India flight AI104, from Washington to Delhi via Vienna, was also cancelled. “Passengers have been rebooked on alternative flights to Delhi or offered full refunds based on their preferences,” the airline said. Air India expressed regret over the inconvenience caused and said it was acting in line with its voluntary enhanced pre-flight safety checks. “The carrier deeply regrets the inconvenience caused and remains committed to prioritising the safety of all passengers and crew,” the spokesperson said. In another incident, another Air India plane travelling from Delhi to Vienna experienced a technical snag. The aircraft dropped nearly 900 feet mid-air shortly after takeoff. A spokesperson of the airline said on Tuesday (Jul 7) that an investigation is underway and both pilots have been grounded. The incident occurred on Jun 14, about 38 hours after the London-bound Air India flight crashed in Ahmedabad, killing over 260 people.

After experiencing the issue, the Vienna-Washington leg of the flight was cancelled as rectification of the issues was needed before the flight could take off. An Air India spokesperson said that passengers were disembarked.&nbsp;

Delhi-Washington Air India flight cancelled over technical snag, grounded in Vienna

Just two days after the deadly crash of flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad, another Air India plane travelling from Delhi to Vienna dropped nearly 900 feet mid-air shortly after takeoff due to some technical fault. A spokesperson of the airline said on Tuesday (Jul 7) that an investigation is underway and both pilots have been grounded. The incident occurred on Jun 14, about 38 hours after the London-bound Air India flight crashed in Ahmedabad, killing over 260 people. As India mourned the tragic Jun 12 crash, another possible disaster only came to light now.&nbsp;Minutes after taking off from the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport at 2.56 am, flight AI-187, a Boeing 777, rapidly lost altitude. This triggered a stall and ground proximity warnings, including repeated “Don’t sink” alerts, according to The Times of India. The incident happened during a strong storm and bad weather conditions in the national capital. The airlines said that the pilots acted swiftly to stabilise the plane and the flight safely landed in Vienna.&nbsp;The incident was reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which ordered a probe into the matter. The black box of the plane was retrieved and the flight data was shared with the DGCA.&nbsp;“Upon receipt of the pilot's report, the matter was disclosed to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in accordance with regulations. Subsequently, upon receipt of data from the aircraft’s recorders, further investigation was initiated. The pilots have been off-rostered pending the outcome of the investigation,” an Air India spokesperson said.&nbsp;On June 12, Air India flight Boeing Dreamliner 787-8, carrying 242 people onboard, crashed moments after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad in the afternoon. The deadly incident resulted in the death of 241 people on board, leaving only one survivor. Other casualties were also reported on the ground at the site of the crash.&nbsp;The incident has sparked safety concerns about Air India’s fleet, prompting an audit by the DGCA, which highlighted repeated maintenance lapses and poor defect rectification by the airline. Earlier this month, multiple Air India flights reported technical snags.&nbsp;Watch | Ahmedabad Crash: Sabotage angle also being probed in Air India crash case &nbsp;https://www.wionews.com/videos/ahmedabad-crash-sabotage-angle-also-being-probed-in-air-india-crash-case-1751282137947/embed

The incident was reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which ordered a probe into the matter. The airlines said that the pilots acted swiftly to stabilise the plane and the flight safely landed in Vienna.

Just two days after the deadly crash of flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad, another Air India plane travelling from Delhi to Vienna dropped nearly 900 feet mid-air shortly after takeoff due to some technical fault. A spokesperson of the airline said on Tuesday (Jul 7) that an investigation is underway and both pilots have been grounded. The incident occurred on Jun 14, about 38 hours after the London-bound Air India flight crashed in Ahmedabad, killing over 260 people. As India mourned the tragic Jun 12 crash, another possible disaster only came to light now. Minutes after taking off from the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport at 2.56 am, flight AI-187, a Boeing 777, rapidly lost altitude. This triggered a stall and ground proximity warnings, including repeated “Don’t sink” alerts, according to The Times of India. The incident happened during a strong storm and bad weather conditions in the national capital. The airlines said that the pilots acted swiftly to stabilise the plane and the flight safely landed in Vienna. The incident was reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which ordered a probe into the matter. The black box of the plane was retrieved and the flight data was shared with the DGCA. “Upon receipt of the pilot's report, the matter was disclosed to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in accordance with regulations. Subsequently, upon receipt of data from the aircraft’s recorders, further investigation was initiated. The pilots have been off-rostered pending the outcome of the investigation,” an Air India spokesperson said. On June 12, Air India flight Boeing Dreamliner 787-8, carrying 242 people onboard, crashed moments after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad in the afternoon. The deadly incident resulted in the death of 241 people on board, leaving only one survivor. Other casualties were also reported on the ground at the site of the crash. The incident has sparked safety concerns about Air India’s fleet, prompting an audit by the DGCA, which highlighted repeated maintenance lapses and poor defect rectification by the airline. Earlier this month, multiple Air India flights reported technical snags. Watch | Ahmedabad Crash: Sabotage angle also being probed in Air India crash case https://www.wionews.com/videos/ahmedabad-crash-sabotage-angle-also-being-probed-in-air-india-crash-case-1751282137947/embed

The incident was reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which ordered a probe into the matter. The airlines said that the pilots acted swiftly to stabilise the plane and the flight safely landed in Vienna.

Just hours after deadly Ahmedabad plane crash, another Air India flight dropped 900 feet during takeoff | SHOCKING details inside

A passenger aboard an Air India flight from Amritsar to Delhi was handed over to airport security at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport for engaging in unruly behaviour mid-flight on Saturday (Jun 28). The incident occurred on board flight AI454 and was confirmed by the airline. Reportedly, the man had a verbal altercation with a co-passenger, which prompted intervention from cabin crew and airport security.&nbsp;According to a Times of India report, an argument broke out between a couple. When a co-passenger tried to intervene, the man ended up having a fight with the latter too. “The third passenger had just tried to intervene and calm things down,” sources told TOI.&nbsp;“During cabin preparations for landing, a member of our cabin crew noticed a passenger standing in the aisle, engaged in a verbal altercation with another passenger. The second passenger reported to the crew that the individual was being abusive,” the airline said.&nbsp;The flight crew acted swiftly to de-escalate the situation and relocated the affected passenger to a business-class seat for the remaining flight. After landing at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the airline's security team, which was alerted by the pilot beforehand, was on standby to address the issue. The person was handed over to airport security for further investigation.&nbsp;“Our cabin crew immediately de-escalated the situation by relocating the second passenger to a business-class seat for the duration of the landing. Following a complaint by the second passenger, the pilot-in-command notified our security team on the ground about the situation, who were present upon the flight’s arrival in Delhi. The disruptive passenger was handed over to the airport security for further investigation,” the airline said.&nbsp;“Air India maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards disruptive behaviour and prioritises the safety and well-being of all passengers and crew,” a spokesperson said. “We will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities, and the matter is now under their purview,” the airline added.&nbsp;As per the guidelines set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the airlines are required to take such incidents seriously. Under DGCA norms, carriers are required to establish an internal committee to probe into the matter and take necessary action, including the possibility of putting the passenger on the no-fly list of the country.&nbsp;In another incident, a man allegedly misbehaved with a woman crew member onboard an Air India Express flight after consuming alcohol on Saturday, sources told ANI. The flight was travelling from Dubai to Jaipur. The matter was reported to airport security, and a formal complaint was filed by the airlines. The authorities have launched an investigation into the matter.

The flight crew acted swiftly to de-escalate the situation and relocated the affected passenger to a business-class seat for the remaining flight. 

A passenger aboard an Air India flight from Amritsar to Delhi was handed over to airport security at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport for engaging in unruly behaviour mid-flight on Saturday (Jun 28). The incident occurred on board flight AI454 and was confirmed by the airline. Reportedly, the man had a verbal altercation with a co-passenger, which prompted intervention from cabin crew and airport security. According to a Times of India report, an argument broke out between a couple. When a co-passenger tried to intervene, the man ended up having a fight with the latter too. “The third passenger had just tried to intervene and calm things down,” sources told TOI. “During cabin preparations for landing, a member of our cabin crew noticed a passenger standing in the aisle, engaged in a verbal altercation with another passenger. The second passenger reported to the crew that the individual was being abusive,” the airline said. The flight crew acted swiftly to de-escalate the situation and relocated the affected passenger to a business-class seat for the remaining flight. After landing at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the airline's security team, which was alerted by the pilot beforehand, was on standby to address the issue. The person was handed over to airport security for further investigation. “Our cabin crew immediately de-escalated the situation by relocating the second passenger to a business-class seat for the duration of the landing. Following a complaint by the second passenger, the pilot-in-command notified our security team on the ground about the situation, who were present upon the flight’s arrival in Delhi. The disruptive passenger was handed over to the airport security for further investigation,” the airline said. “Air India maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards disruptive behaviour and prioritises the safety and well-being of all passengers and crew,” a spokesperson said. “We will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities, and the matter is now under their purview,” the airline added. As per the guidelines set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the airlines are required to take such incidents seriously. Under DGCA norms, carriers are required to establish an internal committee to probe into the matter and take necessary action, including the possibility of putting the passenger on the no-fly list of the country. In another incident, a man allegedly misbehaved with a woman crew member onboard an Air India Express flight after consuming alcohol on Saturday, sources told ANI. The flight was travelling from Dubai to Jaipur. The matter was reported to airport security, and a formal complaint was filed by the airlines. The authorities have launched an investigation into the matter.

The flight crew acted swiftly to de-escalate the situation and relocated the affected passenger to a business-class seat for the remaining flight.&nbsp;

Air India passenger handed over to airport security for ‘being abusive’ during Delhi-bound flight

In recent development, India extended the closure of the flights operated by Pakistani airlines until July 24, on Monday. The Indian airspace has been closed since April 30 for all the aircraft owned, operated, or leased by Pakistani airlines, including military flights. The step against Pakistan was taken by the government after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people on April 22.According to a report by the news agency PTI, the ban was primarily supposed to end on May 24, but later it was extended till June 24. Similarly, a fresh NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) was issued on Monday, extending the closure to one more month until 24, 2025.The NOTAM confirmed that Indian airspace will be unavailable for Pakistan-registered aircraft and aircraft operated, owned, or leased by Pakistani airlines and operators, along with their military flights. In the meantime, Pakistan has also decided to extend the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft by another month, until July 24.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/air-india-suspends-flights-to-west-asia-europe-us-east-coast-till-further-notice-amid-iran-israel-war-1750739170127">Air India suspends flights to West Asia, Europe, US East Coast till further notice amid Iran-Israel war</a>On April 23, a day after the Pahalgam attack, a diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated resulting in announcement of several punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the only operational land border crossing at Attari, and downgrading of diplomatic ties due to cross-border links to the massacre.A day after the Pahalgam attack, India announced several retaliatory measures against Pakistan that include, Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the only operational land border crossing at Attari, and dampening of the diplomatic ties due to the cross-border tensions.<h3>Complexities in aircraft travelling longer durations</h3>As per the Indian Express, both nations will keep their respective airspace, including military flights, till 5:29 am Indian time on July 24. Following the closures, around 800 flights a week of Indian airlines are being affecṭed for the aircraft travelling longer durations due to an increase in fuel burn. It has also come up with a few other complexities related to crew and flight scheduling, as well as an increase in operational costs for the carriers.Flight tracking data indicates that several of Air India’s ultra-long-haul flights to and from North America have been making scheduled technical stops, such as for refuelling or crew changes, at European airports like Vienna and Copenhagen, disrupting what are typically non-stop services. This situation is similar to 2019, when Pakistan shut its airspace after the Indian Air Force’s Balakot strikes, forcing Air India to regularly incorporate mid-journey halts for its North American routes.During that four-month closure of Pakistani airspace in 2019, Indian carriers reportedly incurred losses of nearly Rs 700 crore, largely due to increased fuel consumption and operational challenges arising from longer alternative routes. Air India bore the brunt of the impact, as it operated a larger number of west-bound international flights than other Indian airlines.Now under the Tata Group, Air India is believed to have conveyed to the government that a prolonged Pakistani airspace closure could cost the airline around $600 million annually. Meanwhile, in recent years, other Indian airlines—especially IndiGo—have expanded their international services using narrow-body aircraft to reach various short- and medium-haul destinations. &nbsp;

In a fresh NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), which was issued on Monday, it was announced that closures of airspace were extended to one more month until July 24, 2025. Meanwhile, Pakistan has also decided to extend the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft.

In recent development, India extended the closure of the flights operated by Pakistani airlines until July 24, on Monday. The Indian airspace has been closed since April 30 for all the aircraft owned, operated, or leased by Pakistani airlines, including military flights. The step against Pakistan was taken by the government after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people on April 22. According to a report by the news agency PTI, the ban was primarily supposed to end on May 24, but later it was extended till June 24. Similarly, a fresh NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) was issued on Monday, extending the closure to one more month until 24, 2025. The NOTAM confirmed that Indian airspace will be unavailable for Pakistan-registered aircraft and aircraft operated, owned, or leased by Pakistani airlines and operators, along with their military flights. In the meantime, Pakistan has also decided to extend the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft by another month, until July 24. Also read: Air India suspends flights to West Asia, Europe, US East Coast till further notice amid Iran-Israel war On April 23, a day after the Pahalgam attack, a diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated resulting in announcement of several punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the only operational land border crossing at Attari, and downgrading of diplomatic ties due to cross-border links to the massacre. A day after the Pahalgam attack, India announced several retaliatory measures against Pakistan that include, Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the only operational land border crossing at Attari, and dampening of the diplomatic ties due to the cross-border tensions. Complexities in aircraft travelling longer durations As per the Indian Express, both nations will keep their respective airspace, including military flights, till 5:29 am Indian time on July 24. Following the closures, around 800 flights a week of Indian airlines are being affecṭed for the aircraft travelling longer durations due to an increase in fuel burn. It has also come up with a few other complexities related to crew and flight scheduling, as well as an increase in operational costs for the carriers. Flight tracking data indicates that several of Air India’s ultra-long-haul flights to and from North America have been making scheduled technical stops, such as for refuelling or crew changes, at European airports like Vienna and Copenhagen, disrupting what are typically non-stop services. This situation is similar to 2019, when Pakistan shut its airspace after the Indian Air Force’s Balakot strikes, forcing Air India to regularly incorporate mid-journey halts for its North American routes. During that four-month closure of Pakistani airspace in 2019, Indian carriers reportedly incurred losses of nearly Rs 700 crore, largely due to increased fuel consumption and operational challenges arising from longer alternative routes. Air India bore the brunt of the impact, as it operated a larger number of west-bound international flights than other Indian airlines. Now under the Tata Group, Air India is believed to have conveyed to the government that a prolonged Pakistani airspace closure could cost the airline around $600 million annually. Meanwhile, in recent years, other Indian airlines—especially IndiGo—have expanded their international services using narrow-body aircraft to reach various short- and medium-haul destinations.

In a fresh NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), which was issued on Monday, it was announced that closures of airspace were extended to one more month until July 24, 2025. Meanwhile, Pakistan has also decided to extend the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft.

India, Pakistan extends airspace ban till this date: Here's why it was done thrice

Amid the developing situation in West Asia, Air India on Monday night suspended all its operations to the region, along with Europe and the east coast of North America, until further notice. The announcement came after Iran launched a missile targeting an American military base in Qatar, resulting in Asian nations shutting down their airspace.Amid the situation, several flights en route to key airports such as Doha, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi were diverted to other airports. In addition to Air India, Air India Express, and IndiGo were also affected, according to flight tracking data.Countries including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait have shut their respective airspaces, which leads to significant disruption of the services. However, Qatar opened its airspace later. Meanwhile, the closure duration of the most of the airspace in the region remains unclear. Some experts indicated that suspensions would be for short durations, with flights resuming in the affected airspaces within a few hours.After Air India had suspended its services to several destinations west of India, as those routes involve flying over West Asian airspace, other Indian carriers have also issued advisories alerting passengers to potential delays or diversions on flights operating in the region.<h3>Air India offers direct flights to Europe and North America</h3>The West Asian air corridors are vital for air travel between India and Europe, as well as parts of North America. Currently, Air India is the only Indian airline offering direct connections to Europe and North America. Most other Indian airlines primarily operate short-haul international flights, particularly within West Asia.“Amid the developing situation in the Middle East, Air India has ceased all operations to the region as well as to and from the East Coast of North America and Europe with immediate effect, until further notice. Our India-bound flights from North America are diverting back to their respective origins, and others are being diverted back to India or rerouted away from the closed airspace. We request the understanding of all passengers who may be affected by this disruption that’s beyond an airline’s control. Air India is in continuous consultation with its external security advisors and is vigilantly monitoring the evolving situation. We will keep our passengers informed of any updates. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our number one priority,” an Air India spokesperson said.“As a result of the ongoing situation in the Middle East and suspension of Qatar airspace, Air India Express has diverted our Doha-bound flight from Kochi to Muscat and returned our flight bound from Kannur. We have no other flights bound for Qatar. Air India Express has no aircraft on the ground in Qatar. We are monitoring the situation closely and will take all necessary precautions for the safety and security of our guests and crew, with inputs from the relevant authorities,” an Air India Express spokesperson said Monday night.Air India Express, for instance, runs 25 weekly flights to Doha, Qatar’s capital, with direct connections from cities including Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Tiruchchirappalli.“In light of the recent developments in the Middle East, flight arrivals and departures from Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, Dammam, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Ras Al-Khaimah and Tbilisi are impacted. We are actively monitoring the situation and adjusting our operations to ensure the highest level of safety for our customers and crew. We understand that diversions/delays disrupt travel plans, and we sincerely regret the inconvenience caused. Impacted customers are advised to check their flight status on our website or app and may explore alternate travel options available online,” IndiGo said in an advisory to passengers on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter)SpiceJet also said in its advisory on X, “Due to airspace closure in the Middle East, some of our flights may be affected. Passengers are advised to check their flight status.”Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel; however, 'agreement' on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations has not been concluded. After the Trump announcement of a ceasefire, the Israeli army confirmed that Iranian missiles had been fired at Israel.&nbsp;

After Air India had suspended its services to several destinations west of India, as those routes involve flying over West Asian airspace, other Indian carriers have also issued advisories alerting passengers to potential delays or diversions on flights operating in the region.

Amid the developing situation in West Asia, Air India on Monday night suspended all its operations to the region, along with Europe and the east coast of North America, until further notice. The announcement came after Iran launched a missile targeting an American military base in Qatar, resulting in Asian nations shutting down their airspace. Amid the situation, several flights en route to key airports such as Doha, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi were diverted to other airports. In addition to Air India, Air India Express, and IndiGo were also affected, according to flight tracking data. Countries including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait have shut their respective airspaces, which leads to significant disruption of the services. However, Qatar opened its airspace later. Meanwhile, the closure duration of the most of the airspace in the region remains unclear. Some experts indicated that suspensions would be for short durations, with flights resuming in the affected airspaces within a few hours. After Air India had suspended its services to several destinations west of India, as those routes involve flying over West Asian airspace, other Indian carriers have also issued advisories alerting passengers to potential delays or diversions on flights operating in the region. Air India offers direct flights to Europe and North America The West Asian air corridors are vital for air travel between India and Europe, as well as parts of North America. Currently, Air India is the only Indian airline offering direct connections to Europe and North America. Most other Indian airlines primarily operate short-haul international flights, particularly within West Asia. “Amid the developing situation in the Middle East, Air India has ceased all operations to the region as well as to and from the East Coast of North America and Europe with immediate effect, until further notice. Our India-bound flights from North America are diverting back to their respective origins, and others are being diverted back to India or rerouted away from the closed airspace. We request the understanding of all passengers who may be affected by this disruption that’s beyond an airline’s control. Air India is in continuous consultation with its external security advisors and is vigilantly monitoring the evolving situation. We will keep our passengers informed of any updates. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our number one priority,” an Air India spokesperson said. “As a result of the ongoing situation in the Middle East and suspension of Qatar airspace, Air India Express has diverted our Doha-bound flight from Kochi to Muscat and returned our flight bound from Kannur. We have no other flights bound for Qatar. Air India Express has no aircraft on the ground in Qatar. We are monitoring the situation closely and will take all necessary precautions for the safety and security of our guests and crew, with inputs from the relevant authorities,” an Air India Express spokesperson said Monday night. Air India Express, for instance, runs 25 weekly flights to Doha, Qatar’s capital, with direct connections from cities including Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Tiruchchirappalli. “In light of the recent developments in the Middle East, flight arrivals and departures from Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, Dammam, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Ras Al-Khaimah and Tbilisi are impacted. We are actively monitoring the situation and adjusting our operations to ensure the highest level of safety for our customers and crew. We understand that diversions/delays disrupt travel plans, and we sincerely regret the inconvenience caused. Impacted customers are advised to check their flight status on our website or app and may explore alternate travel options available online,” IndiGo said in an advisory to passengers on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) SpiceJet also said in its advisory on X, “Due to airspace closure in the Middle East, some of our flights may be affected. Passengers are advised to check their flight status.” Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel; however, 'agreement' on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations has not been concluded. After the Trump announcement of a ceasefire, the Israeli army confirmed that Iranian missiles had been fired at Israel.

After Air India had suspended its services to several destinations west of India, as those routes involve flying over West Asian airspace, other Indian carriers have also issued advisories alerting passengers to potential delays or diversions on flights operating in the region.

Air India suspends flights to West Asia, Europe, US East Coast till further notice amid Iran-Israel war

On June 12, 2025, the biggest accident in recent aviation history happened. Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed just seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad international airport.

On June 12 2025, the biggest accident in recent aviation history happened. An Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed just seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad airport.

Air India Ahmedabad Plane Crash: A timeline of the event

An Air India Express flight from Delhi to Srinagar via Jammu had to return to its original airport after it failed to make a landing at its destination on Monday afternoon.&nbsp;It is yet to be ascertained what made the flight to return back to is destination without landing.&nbsp;The flight IX-2564 was supposed to land in Jammu and then leave for Srinagar but the pilot after hovering the plane over the airport for sometime in the afternoon decided not to land and return to Delhi, said officials, as reported by PTI.&nbsp;Prima facie, it seems the pilot could not find the appropriate landing area despite the weather and the runway being clear, &nbsp;the officials further said.&nbsp;Air India ordered to sack officials&nbsp;After the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, the &nbsp;Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on June 20 ordered immediate action against three senior officials of Air India. The company has been asked to remove the officials on grounds of “serious and repeated violations” of aviation safety protocols.&nbsp;“The voluntary disclosures, while noted, point to systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability. Of particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses,” the order read.&nbsp;Choorah Singh, Divisional Vice President; Pinky Mittal, Chief Manager - DOPS, Crew Scheduling; and Payal Arora were directly held responsible for several lapses, including unauthorised and non-compliant crew pairings, violations of licensing and crew rest norms and systemic failures in oversight, according to the to the DGCA order.&nbsp;“Internal disciplinary proceedings must be initiated against these officials without delay, and the outcome of such proceedings shall be reported to this office within 10 days from the date of issue of this letter,” the order stated.&nbsp;

An Air India Express flight from Delhi to Srinagar via Jammu had to return to its original airport.

An Air India Express flight from Delhi to Srinagar via Jammu had to return to its original airport after it failed to make a landing at its destination on Monday afternoon. It is yet to be ascertained what made the flight to return back to is destination without landing. The flight IX-2564 was supposed to land in Jammu and then leave for Srinagar but the pilot after hovering the plane over the airport for sometime in the afternoon decided not to land and return to Delhi, said officials, as reported by PTI. Prima facie, it seems the pilot could not find the appropriate landing area despite the weather and the runway being clear, the officials further said. Air India ordered to sack officials After the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on June 20 ordered immediate action against three senior officials of Air India. The company has been asked to remove the officials on grounds of “serious and repeated violations” of aviation safety protocols. “The voluntary disclosures, while noted, point to systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability. Of particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses,” the order read. Choorah Singh, Divisional Vice President; Pinky Mittal, Chief Manager - DOPS, Crew Scheduling; and Payal Arora were directly held responsible for several lapses, including unauthorised and non-compliant crew pairings, violations of licensing and crew rest norms and systemic failures in oversight, according to the to the DGCA order. “Internal disciplinary proceedings must be initiated against these officials without delay, and the outcome of such proceedings shall be reported to this office within 10 days from the date of issue of this letter,” the order stated.

An Air India Express flight from Delhi to Srinagar via Jammu had to return to its original airport.

Air India flight to Srinagar hovers over Jammu airport then returns to Delhi without landing

The tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad on June 12—the deadliest aviation disaster in over a decade—is sending shockwaves through the global insurance industry. The crash, which killed 241 passengers and crew along with 33 people on the ground, has triggered an estimated insurance claim of $475 million (₹3,940 crore), making it India’s most expensive aviation insurance payout to date.The Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet was completely destroyed, marking the first-ever total loss of this aircraft model since its introduction in 2011. The massive claim includes approximately $125 million for the hull and engines and over $350 million in liability, covering compensation for loss of life and property damage on the ground under the Montreal Convention. Air India’s fleet is insured for around $20 billion, with annual premiums close to $30 million. However, more than 90 per cent of this financial burden will fall on global reinsurers, primarily based in London and Bermuda.Experts say this high-profile loss is likely to “harden” the global aviation insurance market, pushing premiums sharply higher in the coming renewal cycle. Bloomberg reported that Indian brokers expect increases between 10 per cent and 30 per cent across key coverages such as hull, war-risk, and liability insurance, which is far steeper than hikes seen after previous crashes.<h2>Global ripple effect</h2>While the crash occurred in India, its financial aftershocks will be global. According to insurance experts and market insiders, the scale of the claim means international reinsurers will reprice risk across their entire aviation portfolios. That means airlines around the world are likely to see their premiums rise significantly in the months ahead.“This catastrophe will contribute to global rate hardening,” Sajja Praveen Chowdary, director at Policybazaar for Business, told Bloomberg. “It’s not just an Indian issue. Premiums for hull, liability, and war-risk covers could jump as much as 30 per cent globally.”Aviation insurance claims have already amounted to over $15 billion between 2019 and 2024, according to a report by Allianz SE.&nbsp;With strong growth in air travel in Asia-Pacific and North American regions, total annual aviation premiums were projected to exceed $8 billion even before the Air India crash. Now, analysts warn the number could rise further, especially if more losses occur in the near future.Brokers say insurers may introduce stricter underwriting standards, particularly for wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 787. The cost of coverage may also be passed on to passengers, as airlines operating on thin margins look to offset higher insurance expenses through higher fares or reduced services.<h2>Claim complexities</h2>The claim settlement process is expected to be long and layered, involving multiple insurers, reinsurers, and legal jurisdictions. While Indian insurers like Tata AIG and GIC Re are leading the local cover, they retain only 5-10 per cent of the risk.&nbsp;The rest is reinsured abroad, and a portion of that is further distributed through retrocession, a mechanism by which reinsurers transfer risk to other parties, including global giants like Swiss Re, Munich Re, and various ILS funds.Investigations into the crash are ongoing, with technical failure and potential liability still under scrutiny. Depending on the cause—accident, technical fault, or sabotage—different insurance policies (hull all-risk or war-risk) will be triggered.&nbsp;Compensation for victims will follow international protocols, with each airline liable for up to 113,100 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), equivalent to approximately ₹1.26 crore ($145,143) per victim.

Indian brokers expect increases between 10 per cent and 30 per cent across key coverages such as hull, war-risk, and liability insurance, which is far steeper than hikes seen after previous crashes.

The tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad on June 12—the deadliest aviation disaster in over a decade—is sending shockwaves through the global insurance industry. The crash, which killed 241 passengers and crew along with 33 people on the ground, has triggered an estimated insurance claim of $475 million (₹3,940 crore), making it India’s most expensive aviation insurance payout to date. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet was completely destroyed, marking the first-ever total loss of this aircraft model since its introduction in 2011. The massive claim includes approximately $125 million for the hull and engines and over $350 million in liability, covering compensation for loss of life and property damage on the ground under the Montreal Convention. Air India’s fleet is insured for around $20 billion, with annual premiums close to $30 million. However, more than 90 per cent of this financial burden will fall on global reinsurers, primarily based in London and Bermuda. Experts say this high-profile loss is likely to “harden” the global aviation insurance market, pushing premiums sharply higher in the coming renewal cycle. Bloomberg reported that Indian brokers expect increases between 10 per cent and 30 per cent across key coverages such as hull, war-risk, and liability insurance, which is far steeper than hikes seen after previous crashes. Global ripple effect While the crash occurred in India, its financial aftershocks will be global. According to insurance experts and market insiders, the scale of the claim means international reinsurers will reprice risk across their entire aviation portfolios. That means airlines around the world are likely to see their premiums rise significantly in the months ahead. “This catastrophe will contribute to global rate hardening,” Sajja Praveen Chowdary, director at Policybazaar for Business, told Bloomberg. “It’s not just an Indian issue. Premiums for hull, liability, and war-risk covers could jump as much as 30 per cent globally.” Aviation insurance claims have already amounted to over $15 billion between 2019 and 2024, according to a report by Allianz SE. With strong growth in air travel in Asia-Pacific and North American regions, total annual aviation premiums were projected to exceed $8 billion even before the Air India crash. Now, analysts warn the number could rise further, especially if more losses occur in the near future. Brokers say insurers may introduce stricter underwriting standards, particularly for wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 787. The cost of coverage may also be passed on to passengers, as airlines operating on thin margins look to offset higher insurance expenses through higher fares or reduced services. Claim complexities The claim settlement process is expected to be long and layered, involving multiple insurers, reinsurers, and legal jurisdictions. While Indian insurers like Tata AIG and GIC Re are leading the local cover, they retain only 5-10 per cent of the risk. The rest is reinsured abroad, and a portion of that is further distributed through retrocession, a mechanism by which reinsurers transfer risk to other parties, including global giants like Swiss Re, Munich Re, and various ILS funds. Investigations into the crash are ongoing, with technical failure and potential liability still under scrutiny. Depending on the cause—accident, technical fault, or sabotage—different insurance policies (hull all-risk or war-risk) will be triggered. Compensation for victims will follow international protocols, with each airline liable for up to 113,100 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), equivalent to approximately ₹1.26 crore ($145,143) per victim.

Indian brokers expect increases between 10 per cent and 30 per cent across key coverages such as hull, war-risk, and liability insurance, which is far steeper than hikes seen after previous crashes.

Air India crash to inflate aviation insurance bills by 30% worldwide

A 36-year-old woman threatened to crash the aeroplane when the crew asked her to put her bags in the overhead bin. She was taken away by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and later to the police station, where she continued to cause a ruckus. The incident happened at the Bengaluru airport aboard an Air India flight that was supposed to fly to Surat. It was delayed by several hours because of the woman's actions. Vyas Hiral Mohanbhai, a resident of Shivanahalli near Yelahanka, boarded AI flight IX2749 alone. She ditched the check-in counter and came on the plane with two bags.She put one bag next to the cabin crew and took the second one with her to her seat. When the crew asked her to keep both bags in the overhead bin, all hell broke loose. She created a scene and forced the crew to keep her bags with them and take responsibility for their security. This was against airline baggage protocol, so they insisted she take it with her.The woman refused to comply and launched a volley of verbal abuse against the crew. Other passengers tried to calm her down, but her anger rose, and she shouted at everyone around them. She even threatened to crash the plane if her demand was not met.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/drunk-passenger-pulls-woman-s-hair-is-zip-tied-after-maniacal-episode-on-southwest-flight-1750304391881">Drunk passenger pulls woman's hair, is zip tied after maniacal episode on flight in New York</a>&nbsp;The captain was forced to call security on board to tackle the situation. CISF officials got on the plane and removed Mohanbhai. Agnimitra Bahinipati, associate manager of security at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), filed a complaint, according to which the ruckus started at around 2.45 pm and went on till 5.30 pm on June 17.At the KIA police station, the woman is said to have abused and manhandled officers. "This was the first time we heard such abusive language in the station," a senior police officer said. The woman's husband, who works at an educational institution in Bengaluru, was called to the police station, where he said that his wife had caused similar disturbances in the past as well. She was an Ayurvedic doctor but had stopped practising a few years back. &nbsp;

An Ayurvedic doctor created a ruckus on an Air India flight in Bengaluru over her baggage after she came on board with two bags and insisted the crew keep one in their security.

A 36-year-old woman threatened to crash the aeroplane when the crew asked her to put her bags in the overhead bin. She was taken away by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and later to the police station, where she continued to cause a ruckus. The incident happened at the Bengaluru airport aboard an Air India flight that was supposed to fly to Surat. It was delayed by several hours because of the woman's actions. Vyas Hiral Mohanbhai, a resident of Shivanahalli near Yelahanka, boarded AI flight IX2749 alone. She ditched the check-in counter and came on the plane with two bags. She put one bag next to the cabin crew and took the second one with her to her seat. When the crew asked her to keep both bags in the overhead bin, all hell broke loose. She created a scene and forced the crew to keep her bags with them and take responsibility for their security. This was against airline baggage protocol, so they insisted she take it with her. The woman refused to comply and launched a volley of verbal abuse against the crew. Other passengers tried to calm her down, but her anger rose, and she shouted at everyone around them. She even threatened to crash the plane if her demand was not met. Also Read: Drunk passenger pulls woman's hair, is zip tied after maniacal episode on flight in New York The captain was forced to call security on board to tackle the situation. CISF officials got on the plane and removed Mohanbhai. Agnimitra Bahinipati, associate manager of security at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), filed a complaint, according to which the ruckus started at around 2.45 pm and went on till 5.30 pm on June 17. At the KIA police station, the woman is said to have abused and manhandled officers. "This was the first time we heard such abusive language in the station," a senior police officer said. The woman's husband, who works at an educational institution in Bengaluru, was called to the police station, where he said that his wife had caused similar disturbances in the past as well. She was an Ayurvedic doctor but had stopped practising a few years back.

An Ayurvedic doctor created a ruckus on an Air India flight in Bengaluru over her baggage after she came on board with two bags and insisted the crew keep one in their security.

Woman threatens to crash plane if crew didn't keep her bag safe with them

In the wake of the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London, which killed 241 people on board and over 30 on the ground, the airline has announced a series of significant operational and safety measures, including a 15 per cent cut in its international wide-body services.&nbsp;The move aims to restore operational stability and passenger confidence while the inspections and investigations continue.Following a directive from India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Air India confirmed it has completed “Enhanced Safety Inspections” on 26 out of its 33 Boeing 787-8/9 Dreamliner aircraft. inspections on the remaining aircraft are expected to conclude in the coming days.In addition, the airline is undertaking precautionary inspections of its Boeing 777 fleet. “We continue to work closely with DGCA, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to ensure the highest standards of safety for our passengers, crew, and aircraft,” Air India said in a statement.<h2>Temporary cutback in services</h2>Air India has announced that it will reduce international flights operated by wide-body aircraft by 15 per cent until at least mid-July. The airline cited multiple compounding factors contributing to the disruption, which include enhanced safety inspections, a cautious operational approach by engineering staff and pilots, geopolitical tensions in West Asia and night curfews in European and East Asian airspace.Over the past six days, the airline has had to cancel 83 international flights. The decision to cut services, the airline said, will allow it to deploy reserve aircraft more flexibly and help stabilise operations while minimising last-minute disruptions for passengers.<h2>Passenger support measures</h2>Acknowledging the inconvenience to travellers, Air India has issued an apology and promised proactive communication with affected passengers.&nbsp;The airline is offering rescheduling at no additional cost, full refunds on cancelled flights and alternate travel arrangements wherever possible.A revised international schedule will be released by June 20, 2025, the airline confirmed in the statement.<h2>Assistance to families</h2>Air India expressed its deep sorrow at the loss of life in the AI171 crash, calling it “the worst air tragedy the nation has faced in decades”. The airline said it is working closely with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Government of Gujarat to support families of the victims.Tata Group and Air India volunteers are currently stationed in Ahmedabad, assisting bereaved families at hospitals and helping with arrangements for the dignified return of the deceased to their homes.“We consider the family members of the deceased as part of our larger family and stand in complete solidarity with them in these difficult times,” the company statement said.<h2>Airline under investigation</h2>The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation by the DGCA and AAIB. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8, went down moments after take-off on June 12, crashing into a nearby medical college hostel. It was the worst air crash in India in recent times, and investigators are exploring both mechanical failure and possible human error.While the immediate focus of the airline is on enhanced safety and victim support, Air India has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to restoring trust. “With continued support from our passengers, regulators, and the public, we will come through this tragedy stronger and safer,” the statement said.

Air India's move aims to restore operational stability and passenger confidence while the inspections and investigations continue.

In the wake of the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London, which killed 241 people on board and over 30 on the ground, the airline has announced a series of significant operational and safety measures, including a 15 per cent cut in its international wide-body services. The move aims to restore operational stability and passenger confidence while the inspections and investigations continue. Following a directive from India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Air India confirmed it has completed “Enhanced Safety Inspections” on 26 out of its 33 Boeing 787-8/9 Dreamliner aircraft. inspections on the remaining aircraft are expected to conclude in the coming days. In addition, the airline is undertaking precautionary inspections of its Boeing 777 fleet. “We continue to work closely with DGCA, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to ensure the highest standards of safety for our passengers, crew, and aircraft,” Air India said in a statement. Temporary cutback in services Air India has announced that it will reduce international flights operated by wide-body aircraft by 15 per cent until at least mid-July. The airline cited multiple compounding factors contributing to the disruption, which include enhanced safety inspections, a cautious operational approach by engineering staff and pilots, geopolitical tensions in West Asia and night curfews in European and East Asian airspace. Over the past six days, the airline has had to cancel 83 international flights. The decision to cut services, the airline said, will allow it to deploy reserve aircraft more flexibly and help stabilise operations while minimising last-minute disruptions for passengers. Passenger support measures Acknowledging the inconvenience to travellers, Air India has issued an apology and promised proactive communication with affected passengers. The airline is offering rescheduling at no additional cost, full refunds on cancelled flights and alternate travel arrangements wherever possible. A revised international schedule will be released by June 20, 2025, the airline confirmed in the statement. Assistance to families Air India expressed its deep sorrow at the loss of life in the AI171 crash, calling it “the worst air tragedy the nation has faced in decades”. The airline said it is working closely with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Government of Gujarat to support families of the victims. Tata Group and Air India volunteers are currently stationed in Ahmedabad, assisting bereaved families at hospitals and helping with arrangements for the dignified return of the deceased to their homes. “We consider the family members of the deceased as part of our larger family and stand in complete solidarity with them in these difficult times,” the company statement said. Airline under investigation The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation by the DGCA and AAIB. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8, went down moments after take-off on June 12, crashing into a nearby medical college hostel. It was the worst air crash in India in recent times, and investigators are exploring both mechanical failure and possible human error. While the immediate focus of the airline is on enhanced safety and victim support, Air India has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to restoring trust. “With continued support from our passengers, regulators, and the public, we will come through this tragedy stronger and safer,” the statement said.

Air India's move aims to restore operational stability and passenger confidence while the inspections and investigations continue.

Air India cuts international services on wide-body planes by 15% after Ahmedabad crash

Air India has decided to slash its international widebody flights by 15% temporarily until mid-July due to increased safety measures after the June 12 Ahmedabad plane crash and Middle East tensions and airspace curfews in Europe and East Asia.&nbsp;The airline said that the decision is aimed at ensuring greater operational stability, better efficiency and minimising passenger inconvenience amid several compounding challenges. In a post on X, Air India wrote, “Due to the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, night curfew in the airspaces of many countries in Europe and East Asia, the ongoing enhanced safety inspections, and also the necessary cautious approach being taken by the engineering staff and Air India pilots, there have been certain disruptions in our international operations over the last 6 days leading to a total of 83 cancellations.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Air India to reduce international services on widebody aircraft by 15% Move to ensure stability of operations, better efficiency and minimise inconvenience to passengers Air India remains in mourning on the tragic loss of 241 passengers and crew members aboard flight AI171. Our…&mdash; Air India (@airindia) <a href="https://twitter.com/airindia/status/1935391168830820543?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;The airline further said that the temporary curtailment will also help increase the availability of reserve aircraft and allow for smoother handling of any unplanned issues. It added that the route curtailment was a “measured and necessary” step under the current circumstances.&nbsp;On the likely inconvenience to be faced by the passengers, it wrote, “Air India apologises to the passengers affected due to these curtailments, and will inform them in advance and make its best efforts to accommodate them on alternate flights. Passengers will also be offered a choice to reschedule their travel without any cost or to be given a full refund, as per their choice. The revised schedule of our international services, effective from June 20, 2025, will be shared shortly.”&nbsp;Air India also commented on the Ahmedabad crash and said investigations into the cause of the accident are still underway.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed enhanced safety inspections of Air India’s Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleet.It added that of the total 33 aircraft, 26 have already undergone thorough checks and have been cleared to return to service. The clearance of the majority of the fleet serves as a strong endorsement of the safety protocols and maintenance standards being upheld, the airline wrote.&nbsp;“As a matter of added precaution, Air India will also undertake enhanced safety checks on its Boeing 777 fleet,” the carrier said.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Air India remains in mourning on the tragic loss of 241 passengers and crew members aboard flight AI171. Our hearts are with the families, loved ones, and communities affected by the accident,” it stated.

The airline further said that the temporary curtailment will also help increase the availability of reserve aircraft and allow for smoother handling of any unplanned issues. It added that the route curtailment was a “measured and necessary” step under the current circumstances.

Air India has decided to slash its international widebody flights by 15% temporarily until mid-July due to increased safety measures after the June 12 Ahmedabad plane crash and Middle East tensions and airspace curfews in Europe and East Asia. The airline said that the decision is aimed at ensuring greater operational stability, better efficiency and minimising passenger inconvenience amid several compounding challenges. In a post on X, Air India wrote, “Due to the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, night curfew in the airspaces of many countries in Europe and East Asia, the ongoing enhanced safety inspections, and also the necessary cautious approach being taken by the engineering staff and Air India pilots, there have been certain disruptions in our international operations over the last 6 days leading to a total of 83 cancellations.”

The airline further said that the temporary curtailment will also help increase the availability of reserve aircraft and allow for smoother handling of any unplanned issues. It added that the route curtailment was a “measured and necessary” step under the current circumstances.

Air India cuts 15% of international flights, citing enhanced safety, global conflicts

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