Air India Milan-Delhi flight canceled on Diwali eve due to technical snag; hundreds stranded

An Air India flight from Milan to Delhi, AI138, was cancelled on Friday due to an extended technical requirement on the aircraft, with safety prioritized for all passengers and crew. The decision affected 256 passengers and 10 crew members who were scheduled to travel to India on that aircraft.

Air India said it has provided hotel accommodations to all affected passengers, though the hotels are located a little away from the airport because of limited availability. Ground handling teams are continuing to assist with meals, transfers, and other needs while the airline arranges alternative travel. Passengers have been rebooked on alternative flights on or after 20 October, depending on seat availability with Air India and other airlines.

Air India emphasized safety first in its statement and confirmed the rescheduling process is under way. In a notable exception, one passenger whose Schengen visa expires on 20 October was rebooked on another airline’s flight departing Milan on 19 October to ensure visa validity. Diwali travel, already a busy period, was affected by this disruption, and travellers in Europe awaiting connections to India faced delays despite the airline's efforts to minimize disruption through hotel stays and rebookings.

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