**Air India Flight to London Delayed Due to Technical Issues**
Air India’s flight AI-159, which was set to be the first service from Ahmedabad to London following last week’s tragic crash, was grounded on Tuesday due to a technical fault. This marks the fourth incident involving an Air India aircraft within a 24-hour period. The flight was scheduled to depart at 1:10 PM, and the airline has announced that affected passengers will receive refunds.
The previous flight, AI-171, tragically crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad last week, resulting in the loss of 274 lives. Following this incident, the aircraft was retired and replaced by AI-159. According to Flightradar24, the aircraft designated for this route is a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, the same model involved in the recent crash.
**Recent Safety Concerns for Air India**
This latest development raises significant safety concerns regarding wide-body aircraft. Earlier on the same day, another Air India flight (AI-180) from San Francisco to Mumbai experienced a technical issue with one of its engines, necessitating the deplaning of passengers during a scheduled stop in Kolkata. Additionally, on Monday, an Air India Dreamliner (AI-315) returning from Hong Kong to Delhi had to turn back shortly after takeoff due to suspected technical problems. That same day, an Air India Express flight from Delhi to Ranchi was diverted back to the capital for similar reasons.
**Investigation into AI-171 Crash**
These incidents come in the wake of the AI-171 crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, colliding with the BJ Medical College hostel in Ahmedabad. Tragically, all but one of the 242 individuals on board, along with 29 people on the ground, lost their lives. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the investigation and has successfully recovered both the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and the flight data recorder (FDR), crucial components in determining the cause of the accident. An aviation expert has suggested that a dual engine failure may have contributed to the crash, as indicated by the deployment of the ram air turbine (RAT) shortly after takeoff.
As Air India navigates these challenges, the focus remains on ensuring passenger safety and addressing the technical issues that have arisen.
**FAQ**
**What caused the delay of Air India flight AI-159?**
The delay of Air India flight AI-159 was due to a technical fault, marking the fourth incident involving an Air India aircraft in a short span of time.
