Air India has announced the suspension of several long-haul international routes and a reduction in flight frequencies following the deadly crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner last Thursday. The crash, which occurred shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad en route to Gatwick, resulted in the deaths of 241 out of 242 people on board, along with approximately 30 fatalities on the ground.
The airline’s chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said the aircraft had a “clean history” and confirmed both engines were within maintenance schedules.
Flight Suspensions and Route Changes
Beginning Saturday, June 21, Air India will suspend or reduce international routes that use Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft. The following services are being suspended entirely:
- Delhi to Nairobi
- Amritsar to Gatwick
- Goa to Gatwick
Other routes from Delhi, Bengaluru, and Amritsar to North America, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and parts of Europe – including Heathrow and Birmingham – will see frequency reductions.
The Ahmedabad–Gatwick route remains unaffected, despite being the origin of the crashed flight.
Safety Measures and Passenger Support
Air India said the move is due to enhanced pre-flight safety checks and airspace restrictions in the Middle East, which have led to longer flight durations. Affected passengers will be contacted for alternative arrangements or refunds.
We apologise to customers for the disruption and are taking every step to ensure their safety,” an Air India spokesperson said.
Aircraft Safety Record and Investigations
Chairman Chandrasekaran stated the aircraft involved in the crash had no prior incidents:
- Right engine: Replaced with a new one in March 2025
- Left engine: Last serviced in 2023, next scheduled for December 2025
Meanwhile, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued unrelated warning notices to Air India before the crash. These notices cited maintenance delays on Airbus aircraft, particularly overdue emergency slide checks.
Black Box Analysis Pending
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has yet to confirm where the flight data recorders (black boxes) will be analysed. Fire damage sustained in the crash means the black boxes may need to be sent to the United States for forensic decoding it’s been revealed.
Black boxes record vital information such as:
- Altitude and airspeed
- Flight control positions
- Cockpit audio and pilot communications
British Survivor Discharged
The sole survivor, a British national, has now been discharged from hospital. He has since helped carry the coffin of his brother, who also perished in the crash, at a funeral in western India.
British families affected by the crash have criticised the UK government, saying they feel “utterly abandoned” in the aftermath.
