Air India cancels six international flights today amid post-crash safety checks

Air India cancelled six international flights on Tuesday, June 17, due to different reasons, including strict safety checks and technical problems. The cancelled routes included London-Amritsar, Delhi-Dubai, Bengaluru-London, Delhi-Vienna, Delhi-Paris, and Mumbai-San Francisco.

The Mumbai-bound flight from San Francisco had to stop in Kolkata, where it was suddenly cancelled. A total of 228 people, including crew members, were on board the Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft. The stop was originally planned due to international air route changes caused by the closure of Pakistani airspace. After landing in Kolkata around 12:45 am, the plane was expected to fly to Mumbai at 2 am. However, a technical issue with the left-side engine was discovered during post-landing checks.

This technical snag led to chaos at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, as 211 passengers, many with connecting flights from Mumbai, tried to get quick answers from airline staff. Passengers were first told that the issue would be fixed in 25 minutes. But the delay continued, and no clear updates were given for hours.

Passengers sent to Hotels, special flights planned

Air India did not release an official statement right away, but officials informed that special arrangements were being made to send the passengers to Mumbai. All passengers were given breakfast, and many were moved to nearby hotels based on their preferences. Others were being helped to board alternate flights.

An official from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) later said that most of the stranded passengers were shifted to a hotel close to the airport, while the rest were moved to another hotel.

Normally, the San Francisco to Mumbai flight flies directly. But because of the current geopolitical situation and airspace issues, especially involving Pakistan, the airline had rerouted the flight with a technical stop in Kolkata. The Air India official explained that during such technical stops, passengers are not allowed to get off or new food cannot be loaded due to strict aviation rules.

The technical fault was found in the aircraft’s left engine — also known as the port-side engine — during a routine post-landing inspection. Even though passengers were on board and ready to continue the journey, the airline decided not to risk flying and chose to carry out a full inspection of the aircraft.

A reporter from the news agency PTI, who was also on the flight, shared that the crew had informed passengers about the engine issue around 2:40 am, after they had already been waiting on board. The crew promised that the issue would be resolved in 25 minutes, but as time passed, many passengers with connecting flights in Mumbai began to worry. Despite repeated questions, they received no proper updates.

Ahmedabad-London flight also cancelled earlier in the day

Before this incident, Air India had also cancelled its Ahmedabad to London Gatwick flight earlier on Tuesday due to a lack of available aircraft. The airline stated that this was part of ongoing safety checks by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which has asked Air India to inspect its entire fleet.

Air India mainly uses Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft for its flights to Europe and the UK. After a major crash last week involving a Dreamliner flying from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick — where more than 270 people lost their lives — the DGCA has ordered strict inspections of all aircraft operated by the airline.

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IndiGo flight diverted due to security threat

On the same day, a separate incident occurred involving IndiGo Airlines. A flight from Muscat to Kochi (6E1272) was operating its next route from Kochi to Delhi (6E2706) when a security concern was reported. As per the airline, the aircraft was immediately diverted to Nagpur as a safety measure. It safely landed at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur, and all passengers were safely removed from the plane.

The IndiGo spokesperson confirmed the report and said that all required safety steps were followed, and authorities were informed quickly after receiving the alert.

Air Travel disrupted as safety becomes priority

These events highlight the serious impact of technical problems and safety checks on air travel in India. After the deadly crash of an Air India Dreamliner recently, the DGCA has become strict about aircraft inspections. This has caused multiple flight cancellations, delays, and changes in travel plans for many passengers.

Airlines are now under pressure to ensure that their planes meet all safety standards. While this can cause inconvenience to passengers, airline officials say safety is more important than sticking to flight schedules.

At Kolkata airport, frustrated passengers of the cancelled San Francisco-Mumbai flight faced long waits, confusion, and poor communication. But despite the trouble, the decision to ground the flight may have prevented a bigger problem. Air India is now working to resolve the technical issue and provide alternate arrangements.

In the coming days, more such checks and delays may occur as airlines review their operations and aircraft health. Passengers are advised to stay in touch with their airline for updates and be prepared for sudden changes.