Air India Cancels Delhi to Milan Flight, Boeing 787 Grounded

DELHI- Tata Group-owned Air India (AI) cancelled flight AI137 from Delhi (DEL) to Milan (MXP) on Monday after a technical fault was detected on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner during pre-departure checks.

The aircraft was grounded at Delhi Airport (DEL) for safety reasons, with the airline citing the need for more time to resolve the issue. Passengers were not boarded when the fault was identified.

Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh Tekriwal

Air India Cancels Milan Flight

According to Air India, the maintenance issue was flagged before boarding and couldn’t be fixed in time for the scheduled departure. The aircraft was taken out of service as a precaution. No passengers had boarded the plane when the disruption occurred, and the airline confirmed that it was not an in-flight emergency.

The airline stated that ground staff in Delhi were coordinating alternate travel arrangements. Passengers were offered hotel accommodation, full refunds, or free rebooking, depending on their preference.

Air India did not disclose the nature of the fault, only noting it needed extended rectification time. The incident adds to a broader pattern of technical delays affecting multiple Indian carriers, many of which operate older aircraft or are in the process of overhauling their fleets.

This cancellation comes at a time when Indian airlines are under regulatory scrutiny for technical snags, mid-air turnbacks, and delays.

In June, after the incident involving AI171 in Ahmedabad (AMD), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandated detailed inspections of all Boeing 787 Dreamliners in operation by Indian carriers.

While Air India has reportedly completed those inspections, the latest incident shows that ground-level disruptions continue despite the upgraded protocols. These recurring issues may affect operational reliability, especially on long-haul international routes.

Photo: Dnata

Passenger Impact and Airline Response

Air India emphasized that it is working to reduce the disruption for affected travelers. No timeline has been given yet for when the grounded aircraft will return to service or when passengers will be re-accommodated to Milan (MXP).

While cancellations and delays are not uncommon, repeated instances like these can hurt passenger trust—particularly for a carrier aiming to expand its global network.

Ensuring minimal impact on international routes remains a key challenge for Air India as it undergoes a broader transformation under the Tata Group.

Photo: Bhavya Velani/Aviation A2Z

Similar Incident

An Air India flight from New Delhi (DEL) to Washington, DC (IAD) was grounded in Vienna (VIE) after a planned refueling stop turned into an unexpected maintenance delay.

Flight AI103, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, did not resume its journey after engineers at Vienna International Airport (VIE) flagged a technical issue during routine checks.

Air India Flight AI103 departed New Delhi on July 2, headed for Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), with a scheduled stop in Vienna for refueling. The aircraft, registered as VT-NAC and 7.8 years old, landed in Vienna as planned. However, during post-landing inspections, maintenance teams identified a technical fault that required immediate attention.

Following standard safety protocols, Air India decided not to operate the Vienna–Washington leg and cancelled the onward journey. All passengers were disembarked and informed at Vienna International Airport (VIE). The airline cited safety as the reason for grounding the aircraft and said that no risks would be taken with transatlantic operations.

The disruption also forced the cancellation of the return leg, Flight AI104 from Washington, DC (IAD) to New Delhi (DEL), which was scheduled to operate via Vienna (VIE). With the Dreamliner grounded in Austria, there was no available aircraft to operate the service.

Passengers booked on AI104 were offered rebooking on alternative flights or full refunds. Air India stated that affected passengers were informed promptly and that staff were deployed to assist with arrangements.

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