Air India flight AI159 from Ahmedabad to London cancelled due to technical snag

The aircraft, which had arrived from Delhi, was scheduled to operate the first London-bound service since the fatal crash that claimed over 260 lives. (File image)

Less than a week after a devastating crash in Ahmedabad that killed 270 people, Air India on Tuesday cancelled its London-bound flight AI159, previously numbered AI171, citing a technical issue.

Flight AI159 was scheduled to depart at 1:10 pm but was grounded after a routine inspection revealed a technical fault. Airline officials confirmed that the issue led to the cancellation.

This marks the second Ahmedabad–London Air India flight in less than a week to face a technical issue. On Monday, another of the carrier’s services was cancelled after operational delays caused the crew’s duty hours to expire.

The aircraft, which had arrived from Delhi, was scheduled to operate the second direct service from Ahmedabad to London since the fatal June 12 incident involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. That aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, slamming into buildings on the BJ Medical College campus and bursting into flames.

The fatal crash involved a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that reportedly suffered technical issues shortly after takeoff. The aircraft crashed into buildings near the BJ Medical College campus, killing 270 of the 271 people on board. One passenger seated in 11A survived with minor injuries, a moment captured in a widely shared video.

Ever since the incident, Air India has been grappling with a string of technical setbacks across its network.

Early Tuesday, a San Francisco–Mumbai flight encountered a glitch in one of its engines, forcing a layover in Kolkata, where passengers were asked to disembark.

In another instance, an Air India Express flight from Delhi to Ranchi was diverted back shortly after takeoff due to a suspected technical problem. Just days earlier, a New Delhi-bound flight from Hong Kong had to return midair due to a malfunction. The airline said the aircraft landed safely in Hong Kong and was undergoing checks “as a matter of abundant caution.”

Back in Ahmedabad, the aftermath of the June 12 crash continues.

Authorities have identified 119 victims through DNA matching and handed over the remains of 76 individuals to their families.

The tragedy has prompted renewed scrutiny of aviation safety in India. Lawmakers and experts have called for an urgent review of airline safety protocols. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture is expected to summon officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), as well as representatives from airlines and airport authorities.

On Tuesday, Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol said a high-level multidisciplinary committee set up by the Centre will submit its report on the crash within three months. He also confirmed that Air India operates 34 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and that 12 of them have already undergone safety checks, with no issues found.

Families of victims, meanwhile, continue to face heartbreaking waits for confirmation of their loved ones’ identities through ongoing DNA testing, a painful reminder of the human toll of one of India’s worst aviation disasters in three decades.