Air India Dreamliner flight from Ahmedabad to London is cancelled because of 'precautionary checks' days after Boeing 787-8 crashed in deadly fireball on same route

Importance Score: 75 / 100 πŸ”΄

Following last week’s tragic plane crash, an Air India flight on the same route has been canceled due to ‘precautionary checks,’ the airline announced Tuesday. The cancellation highlights increased safety scrutiny after the recent accident involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Passengers are being offered accommodations and alternative travel arrangements. The incident raises concerns about Air India flight safety protocols and aircraft maintenance.

Air India Cancels Flight Following Previous Crash

Flight AI159, scheduled to depart from Ahmedabad, India, at 1:10 PM local time on Tuesday and arrive at Gatwick Airport at 6:25 PM BST, was canceled after an initial delay of one hour and 50 minutes, according to Air India’s website.

Gatwick Flight Also Affected

A flight from Gatwick to Amritsar, India, slated for an 8:00 PM BST departure, was also canceled.

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Same Aircraft Model as Crashed Flight

The canceled flights were planned to be operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, the same aircraft model that crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad on June 12.

Official Statement from Air India

An Air India spokesperson clarified the situation: “Flight AI 159 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick has been canceled today due to the unavailability of the aircraft, resulting from airspace restrictions and additional precautionary checks, leading to longer than usual turnaround of aircraft, and not due to any technical snag as claimed.”

Local media reports had suggested AI159 was suspended due to technical issues upon arrival from New Delhi.

Flight Route Renumbered After Disaster

Flight AI159 is a renumbered version of the Ahmedabad to Gatwick route that experienced a devastating crash in a residential area last Thursday.

Remembering the Previous Crash

Last week’s crash was one of the most devastating aviation incidents, with a significant number of British nationals among the fatalities.

The Air India aircraft impacted a medical college hostel in a residential part of Ahmedabad, resulting in the deaths of 241 of the 242 individuals on board. Fifty-two of the victims were British citizens.

British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, was identified as the sole survivor of the crash.

Passenger Support and Alternative Arrangements

Air India stated that passengers impacted by Tuesday’s cancellation are being provided with hotel accommodations, full refunds, or rescheduling options.

“We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers and have made alternative arrangements to fly them to their destination,” a spokesperson said.

Inspections and Safety Measures

Flights have continued to operate from Ahmedabad airport since the initial disaster. Indian authorities have mandated inspections of Air India’s Dreamliner fleet.

Flight data indicates that an Air India flight AI159 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick successfully landed the previous day, despite a three-hour delay departing from India.

Close Call: Passenger Reschedules Before Crash

Among the passengers on the previous flight was one individual who had originally been booked on the ill-fated Flight AI171 but rescheduled his travel at the last moment.

Jayesh Ramji, 34, told the Times of India that he postponed his return to London to stay with his unwell mother.

“I pushed my travel to June 16 as my mother was unwell,” he said. “Now I just hope to get home safe.”

The flight that carried Ramji safely departed Ahmedabad at 4:30 PM local time, landing at Gatwick at 9:32 PM.

Recent Aviation Incidents

Concerns in the aviation sector have recently increased due to several incidents:

  • An Air India Express flight from Delhi to Ranchi was diverted back to Delhi due to a suspected technical issue.
  • An Air India flight AI315 from Delhi to Hong Kong returned due to a “technical issue,” later described as a precautionary measure.
  • A British Airways Boeing Dreamliner from London Heathrow to Chennai diverted due to a technical issue.

Investigation into Previous Air India Crash Continues

A sense of caution remains prevalent in air travel following last Thursday’s tragedy, with investigators still seeking to determine the cause.

There were 53 British nationals, 159 Indian nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian citizen on board Flight AI171 when it crashed.

Authorities announced the recovery of the cockpit voice recorder from Flight AI171, potentially providing more insight into the circumstances of the accident.

Hope for Answers

Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu expressed hope that analyzing the flight data recorder would provide an “in-depth insight” into the circumstances of the crash.

Possible Causes Under Scrutiny

Aviation experts suggest that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner might have experienced a sudden loss of power during a critical phase of flight after takeoff.

Possible causes include a sudden change in wind or a bird strike leading to a double-engine stall.

Commercial airline pilot Steve Schreiber analyzed a new video footage, suggesting it supported the theory of dual engine failure due to the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a device designed to support the aircraft’s electrical power and hydraulic pressure in an emergency.

Schreiber said that the RAT deploys automatically in a 787 in cases of:

  • Electrical failure
  • Hydraulic failure
  • Dual engine failure

Details from Flight Tracking Data

The Boeing jet departed from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel airport at 1:38 PM local time (08:08 BST), reaching an altitude of approximately 625 feet before the incident.

The aircraft then glided for a short period before rapidly descending, impacting a building housing trainee doctors at a nearby medical college.

The confirmed death toll now stands at 279 as rescue efforts continue.


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