Flights by Air India recommence post deadly crash in Ahmedabad

Flights by Air India recommence post deadly crash in Ahmedabad

Air India is gradually resuming its flight schedules after a temporary hiatus on several routes, following a safety pause implemented in the wake of the tragic crash of Flight AI171 near Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The incident claimed the lives of 260 people, leaving one survivor out of 241 on board.

The investigation into the accident, led by the Indian Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), is currently ongoing. The formal investigation was ordered under Rule 11 of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents & Incidents) Rules, 2017, following the unfortunate crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner shortly after takeoff.

A preliminary report was published about a month after the incident, detailing initial findings such as mid-air engine failure, cockpit confusion, and failed recovery attempts within seconds of takeoff. The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), with expert status in the investigation, is reviewing this preliminary report and remains in communication with Indian authorities.

The investigation is focused on determining the root causes and contributory factors, with efforts underway to examine aspects like potential electric malfunctions in the tail wreckage. Enforcement actions related to safety violations at Air India have also been noted, with nine show cause notices issued in the six months prior to July 2025, indicating broader safety enforcement scrutiny concurrent with the crash investigation.

Air India is cooperating fully with the authorities and providing support to the victims’ families, but no final report or conclusion has been released yet, and the full investigation continues.

Delhi-Amsterdam services will return to seven per week, while flights between Ahmedabad and London Heathrow will operate three times a week, instead of the five services to and from Gatwick. Flights between Delhi and Heathrow have already gone back to 24 times a week.

However, disruption will continue on some services, including between Delhi and Birmingham. No information about flights between Delhi and Zurich, Switzerland has been provided. The carrier is proactively contacting passengers affected by the changed schedules, offering rebookings or full refunds.

Gatwick's connections to Amritsar and Goa will not resume until at least September 30, 2025. Routes between Bengaluru or Pune and Singapore remain suspended. Flights between Delhi and Tokyo, and Delhi and Seoul will restart by September 1. The resumption of flights will begin from the start of August and will include more frequent flights to Air India's global destinations, such as Europe, the US, and Asia.

Flights between Delhi and Copenhagen, Sydney, Australia, or Chicago and New York are still on hold. The resumption of flights will allow Air India to offer more than 525 international flights per week on 63 routes.

It is worth noting that the initial report reveals that fuel to the engines was cut off despite neither pilot being aware of it. The "safety pause" enabled precautionary checks on Air India's Boeing 787 fleet.

An air traffic accident investigation is ongoing regarding the cause of the Ahmedabad crash. The investigation is expected to provide valuable insights into the incident and contribute to improving aviation safety standards. Air India continues to cooperate fully with the authorities during this critical time.

1. The Indian Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is currently leading the investigation into the accident involving Air India Flight AI171, triggered under Rule 11 of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents & Incidents) Rules, 2017.
2. A preliminary report about the accident, including initial findings such as mid-air engine failure, cockpit confusion, and failed recovery attempts, was published a month after the incident.
3. The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is reviewing this preliminary report and maintaining communication with Indian authorities.
4. The investigation is focusing on determining the root causes and contributory factors, with efforts to examine potential electric malfunctions in the tail wreckage, and safety violations at Air India have been noted.
5. Enforcement actions related to safety violations at Air India have resulted in nine show cause notices issued in the six months prior to July 2025.
6. Air India is gradually resuming flights, starting from the start of August, with more frequent flights to its global destinations such as Europe, the US, and Asia, but disruption will continue on some services.

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