Published: June 18, 2025 | Last Updated: 2 hours ago
By Priya Menon, Aviation Correspondent
Key Developments
- 83 wide-body flights grounded: In the wake of the June 12 Dreamliner crash at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Air India has cancelled 83 wide-body services—including 66 Boeing 787 flights—through mid‑July as it conducts in‑depth safety checks apnews.com.
- 15% cut in international capacity: The carrier will reduce its international wide-body schedule by roughly 15%, focusing on passenger rebooking, refunds, and complimentary hotel stays for affected travellers economictimes.indiatimes.com.
- Regulatory mandate: India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered comprehensive inspections of all 787 Dreamliners in the fleet and issued directives to strengthen maintenance coordination and spare‑parts availability livemint.com.
Expert Analysis
“These proactive inspections are standard after any fatal incident,” says Capt. Rajiv Menon, former DGCA safety inspector with over 20 years of oversight experience LinkedIn. “Air India’s swift cancellations demonstrate a commitment to restoring passenger confidence, though they’ll need to streamline internal communication to avoid prolonged delays.”
What Happened?
- The Crash
On June 12, Flight AI171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner bound for London, crashed seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing all 241 onboard and 30 people on the ground. - Immediate Response
- Ahmedabad Airport briefly suspended operations.
- Multiple carriers preemptively cancelled Delhi–Ahmedabad services.
- Ongoing Investigation
- DGCA, Boeing, and GE Aerospace experts are analyzing flight data recorders.
- Preliminary findings cite a possible emergency power unit deployment, but no definitive mechanical fault has been confirmed.
What Happens Next?
- Fleet Recertification: Each Dreamliner must pass a multi‑hour clearance test before returning to service.
- Network Adjustments: Passengers on affected routes will be re-accommodated via narrow-body alternatives or partner airlines.
- Regulatory Updates: A formal DGCA safety bulletin, expected within days, may lead to broader regional inspections of Boeing 787 fleets.
Daily Digest
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| June 12 | Crash of Flight AI171 shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. |
| June 13 | Ahmedabad Airport resumes operations; Air India begins cancelling flights. |
| June 15 | DGCA mandates fleet‑wide Dreamliner inspections; no major safety issues found so far. |
| Today | Air India announces 83 wide-body cancellations and 15% international cut until mid-July. |
Fact-Check
| Claim | Source |
|---|---|
| “83 wide-body flights cancelled” | Air India official statement as reported by AP News apnews.com |
| “DGCA found no major safety concerns with Boeing 787s” | DGCA provisional review, LiveMint livemint.com |
| “15% reduction in international services” | Air India media release via Economic Times economictimes.indiatimes.com |
