Flight Number Changes After Tragedy
Air India has revealed plans to retire flight numbers AI171 and AI172 on the route from London Gatwick to Ahmedabad. Starting June 17, 2025, these will be replaced by AI159 and AI160. However, the airline has yet to officially confirm the retirement of these flight numbers.
It is common practice for airlines worldwide to retire flight numbers following a tragic incident, as a sign of respect and healing. The flight number AI171 now carries a heavy burden of national sorrow.
While Air India has not publicly stated the reason for this renumbering, it follows closely on the heels of the June 12 crash of AI171, which resulted in the loss of over 274 lives. Aviation experts note that it is customary to withdraw flight numbers associated with fatal accidents to spare the feelings of travelers, staff, and grieving families.
The ill-fated flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was scheduled to depart from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. Tragically, it crashed mere seconds after takeoff, impacting a densely populated residential area in Ahmedabad. Only one person survived the incident.
Onboard were 242 individuals, including 169 Indian citizens, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, one Canadian, and several crew members. The crash also affected BJ Medical College, where debris fell on the campus, resulting in the deaths of several MBBS students and relatives of a doctor.
Various government agencies have launched investigations into the cause of the crash. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is conducting a safety review of the Dreamliner, while the National Security Guard (NSG) has retrieved the black box and is examining the crash site. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also investigated the scene, ruling out sabotage or terrorism. The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has collected CCTV footage and forensic samples for further analysis.
Initial reports indicate a potential technical failure, but the investigation is ongoing. The analysis of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) is expected to yield more information in the coming weeks.
Flights on the London-Ahmedabad route will continue as scheduled, now under the new flight numbers AI159 and AI160.
