Air India Cancels Six International Flights Amid DGCA-Mandated Inspections

Air India on Tuesday cancelled six international flights due to a combination of operational constraints and precautionary aircraft inspections ordered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The cancellations include the Ahmedabad-London Gatwick flight (AI159), which the airline attributed to the “non-availability of aircraft.” The airline clarified that the move was not related to any technical malfunction but rather due to airspace restrictions and enhanced safety checks mandated by the regulator.

The Delhi-Paris flight (AI143) was also grounded after pre-flight checks identified an issue. Due to night-time restrictions at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, the flight could not be rescheduled. The airline emphasized that the longer-than-usual turnaround time for some aircraft was the result of precautionary inspections and not mechanical faults, countering widespread speculation.

The cancellations come in the wake of increased DGCA scrutiny following recent safety-related incidents involving Air India aircraft. For instance, a San Francisco-Mumbai flight was delayed after a routine post-landing inspection raised safety concerns. Similarly, a Delhi-Ranchi Air India Express flight returned shortly after takeoff due to a suspected technical issue, though the aircraft was later cleared for service. Air India expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers and reaffirmed its commitment to safety and regulatory compliance.

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