Air India Faces Wave of Flight Disruptions Weeks After Fatal Crash

Passengers grow uneasy as technical issues and emergency landings mount.

Weeks after the tragic crash of Air India Express Flight IX113 in Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives, India's national carrier is facing a troubling surge in flight-related problems. From emergency landings and technical snags to flight cancellations, the string of incidents has left many travellers anxious and aviation experts raising red flags.

Just this Sunday, Air India Express Flight IX110 from Hyderabad to Phuket had to return just 16 minutes into the flight due to a technical issue. Though passengers and crew landed safely, the incident is part of a growing list of disruptions this month — many involving aircraft turning back mid-air or being grounded before takeoff.

A Series of Alarming Incidents

Since mid-June, both Air India and its budget subsidiary, Air India Express, have reported multiple setbacks:

• Flight AI315, operating between Hong Kong and Delhi, was forced to return mid-flight due to a technical malfunction detected by the crew.

• Flight AI143 from Delhi to Paris was cancelled after an issue was spotted during pre-flight checks. The return flight was also grounded because of Paris’s night-flight restrictions.

• A London-bound flight from Ahmedabad didn’t take off due to aircraft unavailability linked to post-crash inspections.

• Passengers on a Dubai–Jaipur Air India Express flight were reportedly kept on board for five hours without air conditioning or food after a technical issue.

• A flight from Phuket to Delhi requested an emergency landing due to a bomb threat — which later turned out to be false.

• In Kolkata, a San Francisco–Mumbai flight was stopped during a scheduled layover due to engine concerns.

• Just this Monday, Flight IX-2564 from Delhi to Srinagar via Jammu circled the Jammu airport before the pilot decided to return to Delhi due to a technical fault.

According to Bloomberg, more than 80 Air India flights were cancelled in the week following the Ahmedabad crash. While not all were due to technical reasons, the frequency of incidents has drawn public attention.

Growing Passenger Concerns

Alongside the disruptions, passengers have voiced concerns over poor in-flight systems, limited updates from crew, and inadequate support during delays. Many say the airline’s communication with passengers during emergencies has been lacking, only deepening the unease.

While Air India and its subsidiaries have not released a detailed explanation for the recent wave of problems, experts suggest that heightened scrutiny after the crash — including stricter checks and operational reviews — may be playing a role.

For now, passengers are left hoping for smoother journeys ahead, and for India's flagship airline to restore confidence in its wings.