Published on August 18, 2025
Air India’s flight AI138, scheduled to recreation from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) to Delhi (DEL) connected August 16, was unexpectedly cancelled owed to a operation of a method rumor and unit work hours violation. The cancellation occurred aft a attraction problem was discovered during nan pushback, requiring contiguous attraction earlier nan craft could proceed. To complicate matters further, nan unit had exceeded their legally mandated formation work clip limits, making it intolerable for them to run nan formation safely. As a result, passengers were near stranded, facing important disruptions to their recreation plans. Air India promptly offered edifice accommodations, afloat refunds, and rebooking options to affected passengers, while emphasizing its committedness to rider information and compliance pinch aviation regulations.
Air India Cancels Milan to Delhi Flight Due to Maintenance and Crew Duty Limitations
On August 16, Air India’s formation AI138, which was scheduled to depart from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) to Delhi (DEL), was cancelled aft a attraction rumor was discovered during nan pushback. The business became much analyzable erstwhile nan airline’s unit exceeded their mandated formation work clip limits, making it intolerable to proceed pinch nan flight.
As a result, nan hose offered affected passengers a scope of options, including edifice accommodations, afloat refunds, aliases rebooking connected nan adjacent disposable formation astatine nary other cost.
Flight Cancellation and Passenger Assistance
The cancellation of formation AI138 occurred erstwhile nan craft was preparing for departure. During nan pushback, a attraction rumor was identified, requiring contiguous attraction earlier nan formation could continue. At nan aforesaid time, nan crew’s work hours were approaching nan ineligible limit, making it intolerable for them to run nan formation safely nether nan regulations.
Air India confirmed that nan cancellation was made successful compliance pinch strict information regulations to protect some passengers and nan crew. The hose expressed its sincere apologies for nan inconvenience caused and assured passengers that its crushed teams successful Milan were instantly disposable to assistance pinch nan disruption.
The hose provided affected passengers pinch edifice accommodations for nan nighttime and gave them nan prime betwixt a afloat refund aliases complimentary rebooking connected nan adjacent disposable flight. For those passengers who opted not to proceed their journey, refunds were processed promptly.
Additionally, Air India mentioned that it was making each effort to put replacement proscription for nan affected passengers to guarantee they could scope their destinations arsenic soon arsenic possible.
Operational Challenges Faced by Air India
Air India operates its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliner craft connected its European routes, including nan Milan-Delhi sector. While nan hose has been expanding its European connectivity, it has faced respective operational hurdles successful caller months. These challenges person included method delays and difficulties pinch craft availability, contributing to disruptions specified arsenic nan cancellation of formation AI138.
Despite these setbacks, Air India remains committed to ensuring information is prioritized supra all. The hose is taking each basal steps to amended its operational reliability and minimize disruptions successful nan future.
Similar Cancellation Incident Earlier successful nan Week
Earlier, connected August 14, Air India was besides forced to cancel formation AI137 from Delhi to Milan aft a method rumor was detected during pre-departure checks connected its Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The fault, identified astatine Delhi Airport (DEL), required much clip to resoluteness than what was disposable earlier nan scheduled departure. Since nary passengers were connected committee erstwhile nan rumor was discovered, nan craft was grounded for information reasons.
Air India assured passengers that this was a precautionary measurement and clarified that it was not an in-flight emergency. The responsibility was detected during regular attraction checks, and nan hose followed each information standards during nan process.
Similar to nan Milan flight, Air India’s crushed unit successful Delhi assisted affected passengers by offering edifice accommodations, refunds, aliases rebooking for nan adjacent disposable flight. Passengers who were continuing their travel to Milan aliases different destinations were accommodated accordingly.
Ongoing Technical Disruptions Across Air India’s Network
The cancellations of flights AI137 and AI138 travel a bid of method disruptions crossed Air India’s web successful caller weeks. On August 3, a Delhi-bound formation from Bhubaneswar was cancelled owed to a problem pinch precocious compartment temperatures. Another disruption occurred connected July 31, erstwhile a Boeing 787-9 operating nan Delhi to London work had to abort takeoff and return to nan gross aft a method responsibility was detected.
These incidents item nan challenges Air India faces pinch its fleet, but nan hose has consistently emphasized that information is its superior concern. The hose reiterated that it would proceed to guarantee compliance pinch operational information standards, moreover if it meant delays aliases cancellations.
Inspection and Maintenance Efforts by Air India
In June, pursuing a erstwhile incident involving Air India’s AI171 formation astatine Ahmedabad, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandated thorough inspections of each Boeing 787 Dreamliners successful nan country. Air India has since completed these inspections. However, nan caller cancellations propose that method challenges proceed to effect nan airline’s operational reliability.
The hose is committed to maintaining precocious information standards and resolving immoderate method issues that originate to forestall early disruptions. While operational delays are unfortunate, Air India’s actions show its committedness to rider information and nan ongoing attraction of its fleet.