Passengers Left Stranded Diwali Season After Air India Flight From Milan To Delhi Cancelled; AI Responds

Many passengers flying from Milan to Delhi for Diwali holidays were left stranded after their Air India flight scheduled to depart on Oct. 17, 2025, was cancelled according to NDTV reports.

Air India spokesperson responded to the issue and said that Air India Flight AI138 was cancelled due to an extended technical requirement on the aircraft scheduled to operate the flight.

They said the cancellation was required to prioritize the safety of all passengers and crew.

As per the spokesperson, although at a distance from the airport, accommodation was arranged for all the passengers in hotels. Along with this, passengers were re-booked on alternative flights on or after Oct. 20 based on seat availability with Air India and other airlines.

The spokesperson also mentioned an exceptional case where a woman's Schengen visa was expiring on Oct. 20 and said that she was rebooked on another airline’s flight departing Milan on 19 Oct. "to ensure compliance with her visa validity."

They added that Air Line is also providing all necessary ground assistance, including meals, to all affected passengers.

"We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and reaffirm our commitment to the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew", the spokesperson stated.

In the first week of October, Air India flight AI117, which was bound for the United Kingdom, was inspected by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation to determine how an emergency power system got activated midair.

The Airline has garnered much scrutiny ever since June 12, when Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft operating flight AI171 en route to London's Gatwick airport crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad. The tragic crash is responsible for killing 265 people, including 241 passengers and crew on board.

Among the 241 dead were 169 Indians, 52 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, one Canadian and 12 crew members.

Air India will launch 174 new flights for both domestic and international short-haul routes to expand its network. It's part of the airline's Northern Winter Schedule, which will begin on Oct. 26, 2025.

Flights for Delhi-Kuala Lumpur route are going to increase to 10 times weekly flight from seven times from Nov. 15. Flight frequency on Delhi-Denpasar route, or which connects Delhi with Bali, will increase from 10 times to seven times from Dec. 1, the statement said.