Air India Mumbai–Lucknow Flight Cancelled Amid Operational Turbulence and Weather Disruptions

Mumbai, June 18 : Air India’s Mumbai to Lucknow flight AI2491, scheduled for June 17, was cancelled due to operational reasons and cascading disruptions caused by heavy rainfall in Delhi, the airline announced on Wednesday.

A spokesperson from Air India confirmed that the cancellation was largely driven by delays and diversions of incoming flights, which caused the operating crew to exceed their regulated duty time limits, making it impossible to arrange an immediate replacement crew.

“The decision was taken keeping in mind safety and regulatory compliance,” the airline stated, adding that alternative travel arrangements are being made to ensure affected passengers reach their destination at the earliest.

Passengers impacted by the cancellation were provided hotel accommodations, and were offered full refunds or free rescheduling options to minimize inconvenience.

The cancellation of AI2491 is part of a broader series of disruptions Air India has faced recently. On the same day, Air India flight AI159 from Ahmedabad to London was cancelled due to a technical issue during takeoff at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The incident added to passenger frustration amid mounting cancellations and delays.

According to aviation sources, a total of 16 Air India flights were cancelled on June 17, mainly involving Boeing 787 aircraft. The disruptions come in the wake of the June 12 crash of a Boeing 787 in Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives and led to a wave of safety inspections and increased scrutiny.

In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has held meetings with Air India officials, urging the airline to improve internal coordination and enhance passenger support mechanisms. Despite rigorous inspections since the crash, no major technical anomalies have been found in the aircraft fleet so far.

The situation has been worsened by restricted access to Iranian airspace, causing rerouting and extended turnaround times for several international flights. Combined with weather-related delays, these factors have led to 83 cancellations of widebody aircraft flights since the June 12 incident.