by Our Correspondent in New Delhi
Air India’s troubles have deepened dramatically, with a string of international flight cancellations and mid-route disruptions compounding the airline’s mounting crisis, the worst since the Tata Group took over the carrier three and a half years ago. On Tuesday, flights to major global destinations including London, Paris, and Vienna were cancelled, while a San Francisco–Mumbai flight was abruptly terminated in Kolkata due to a technical fault. The wave of disruptions follows closely on the heels of the devastating June 12 crash of a London-bound flight shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, which claimed more than 270 lives including 29 on the ground. The incident has sent shockwaves through India’s aviation industry and placed Air India under intense public and regulatory scrutiny.
Among the services cancelled were AI 143 (Delhi–Paris), AI 159 (Ahmedabad–London), AI 133 (Bengaluru–London), AI 153 (Delhi–Vienna), AI 915 (Delhi–Dubai), and AI 170 (London–Amritsar). Additionally, a Dreamliner operating as AI 315 to Delhi was forced to return to Hong Kong due to a technical issue. Air India said the Delhi–Paris flight was called off after mandatory pre-flight checks revealed an undisclosed issue. The flight was further hampered by restrictions on night operations at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. In the case of the Ahmedabad–London flight, the airline attributed the cancellation to unavailability of aircraft caused by airspace restrictions and extended turnaround times due to additional safety checks, denying reports of a technical snag.
The Tata Group-owned carrier, attempting damage control, has been providing hotel accommodation, full refunds, and free rescheduling options for affected passengers. It also claims to be making alternative arrangements to get travelers to their destinations at the earliest. The airline resumed the Ahmedabad–London route on Monday under a new flight number, AI 159, replacing the ill-fated AI 171. However, the service was once again cancelled on Tuesday due to aircraft unavailability, further fueling public frustration.
Adding to the chaos, a San Francisco–Mumbai flight operating via Kolkata was halted early Tuesday morning after one of its engines developed a technical fault. The incident left 211 passengers stranded at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, where confusion and anger erupted as they demanded prompt onward travel to Mumbai. Sources suggest Air India is arranging special transport for the stranded passengers, although no official statement has been released.
These operational failures come amid heightened concerns about the airline’s safety and reliability, with investigations still ongoing into the deadly Ahmedabad crash. The airline’s reputation has taken a major hit, posing a challenge to the Tata Group, which has long held a legacy of excellence in business — from luxury automobiles and software to consumer goods and electronics. As the crisis unfolds, Air India’s ability to restore public trust and stabilize operations remains in serious question.
