Air India London to Ahmedabad flight diverted to Dubai due to medical emergency

Ahmedabad: An Air India flight from Ahmedabad to Delhi was cancelled on Wednesday after the inbound international service from London Gatwick was diverted to Dubai following a medical emergency onboard, airline officials said.The affected domestic service, AI424, was scheduled to depart Ahmedabad at 3.05pm with around 250 passengers on board. The cancellation occurred after the aircraft operating AI160 from London Gatwick did not arrive in Ahmedabad as planned earlier in the day.
In a statement, Air India said flight AI160, operating from London Gatwick to Ahmedabad on Feb 4, was diverted to Dubai after a passenger onboard required immediate medical attention. Upon landing in Dubai, the passenger was disembarked and handed over to medical authorities to ensure timely treatment. The airline said the aircraft did not continue onwards to Ahmedabad from Dubai due to a pre-scheduled ‘notice to airmen' (Notam) that temporarily restricted flight operations at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport in Ahmedabad. As a result of the delay, the operating crew subsequently came under mandatory flight duty time limitation (FDTL) norms, which restricted them from continuing the operation. "Due to these operational constraints, the flight was terminated in Dubai," the airline said, adding that the decision was taken in line with safety and regulatory requirements. Air India said its ground staff in Dubai provided immediate assistance to passengers, including hotel accommodation, while efforts were made to rebook travellers on alternative flights to their destinations at the earliest. Passengers booked on the cancelled Ahmedabad-Delhi service were informed of the disruption and assisted with re-accommodation or other options, officials said. The airline expressed regret over the inconvenience caused due to what it described as an unforeseen situation. "The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain our top priority," the spokesperson said. Airport sources said the incident led to some delays and passenger inconvenience at Ahmedabad, though no other major disruptions were reported during the day.