Air India Cancels Milan to Delhi Flight with 787

MILAN- Tata-owned Air India (AI) cancelled flight AI138 from Milan (MXP) to Delhi (DEL) after a maintenance issue was detected during pushback.

The delay was further compounded when the crew exceeded their mandated flight duty limits, forcing the airline to call off the service. Passengers were offered hotels, refunds, or complimentary rebooking options.

Photo: By lasta29 – Air India, B787-8 Dreamliner, VT-ANR, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40687689

Air India Cancels Milan to Delhi Flight

The cancellation took place on 16 August when flight AI138 was preparing for departure from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP). During pushback, a maintenance issue was identified that required attention before the aircraft could continue.

While the technical check was underway, the crew came under mandatory flight duty-time limitation (FDTL) regulations, making it legally impossible for them to operate the flight. Air India (AI) confirmed in a statement that the decision was made to ensure safety compliance and to protect both passengers and crew.

The airline apologized for the inconvenience and highlighted that its ground teams in Milan provided immediate assistance. Passengers received hotel accommodation and were given the choice between a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to the next available service.

Air India emphasized that it prioritized the well-being of travelers. Ground staff in Milan coordinated overnight stays for stranded passengers and assisted with rebooking formalities. For those who did not wish to continue their journey, refunds were processed.

The airline noted that alternative arrangements were being finalized to move affected passengers to their destinations as quickly as possible.

Air India typically deploys its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on European routes, including the Milan–Delhi sector.

The carrier has been increasing connectivity to Europe but has also faced operational challenges in recent months linked to technical delays and aircraft availability.

Photo: Dnata

Similar Incident

Air India (AI) cancelled flight AI137 from Delhi (DEL) to Milan (MXP) on Monday after a technical fault was found in its Boeing 787 Dreamliner during pre-departure checks.

The aircraft was grounded at Delhi Airport (DEL) for safety reasons. Air India confirmed the fault was identified before boarding, so no passengers were on the plane when the disruption occurred.

According to the airline, the fault was detected during standard maintenance inspections. Engineers concluded that the issue required more time to resolve than what was available before the scheduled departure. For safety, the aircraft was removed from service.

Air India clarified that this was not an in-flight emergency but a ground-level disruption. The carrier emphasized that the precautionary grounding reflected its adherence to operational safety standards.

Ground staff at Delhi (DEL) coordinated support for affected passengers. Depending on preference, travelers were offered hotel accommodation, full refunds, or complimentary rebooking on the next available service. This ensured flexibility for those continuing their journeys to Milan (MXP) or connecting beyond.

The airline did not provide details about the specific nature of the fault, only that it required extended rectification. This left the aircraft temporarily out of rotation until maintenance teams could clear it for operations.

In June, following an incident with Air India’s AI171 at Ahmedabad (AMD), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered thorough inspections of all Boeing 787 Dreamliners in India. While Air India has reportedly completed those checks, the latest cancellation shows that technical snags continue to affect operational reliability.

Other Recent cancellations

This cancellation follows a string of technical interruptions across the airline’s network:

• On 3 August, a Delhi-bound flight from Bhubaneswar (BBI) was cancelled due to a high cabin temperature issue.
• On 31 July, a Boeing 787-9 operating a Delhi (DEL) to London (LHR) service aborted take-off and returned to the bay after a technical fault.

Air India stated that despite these disruptions, it continues to prioritize safety over schedule reliability.

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