Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 17 (ANI): Air India said on Tuesday that its flight from Ahmedabad to Gatwick in London has been cancelled today due to the unavailability of the aircraft, resulting from airspace restrictions and additional precautionary checks.

The airline denied claims that the flight has been cancelled due to any technical snag.

Regretting the inconvenience caused to passengers, the airline said alternative arrangements have been made to fly them to their destination.

It said hotel accommodation is being provided and refunds on cancellations or complimentary rescheduling is also being offered if opted by the passengers

'Flight AI159 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick has been cancelled today due to the unavailability of the aircraft, resulting from airspace restrictions and additional precautionary checks, leading to longer than usual turnaround of aircraft, and not due to any technical snag as claimed,' the airline said.

'We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers and have made alternative arrangements to fly them to their destination. We are providing hotel accommodation and also offering full refunds on cancellations or complimentary rescheduling if opted by the passengers. Consequently, flight AI170 from London Gatwick to Amritsar on 17th June stands cancelled,' it added.

There have been airspace restrictions due to Iran-Israel conflict.

Air India had earlier said that it remains fully cooperative with the ongoing investigation into the crash of its London-bound flight soon after its take off from Ahmedabad airport on June 12.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said on Tuesday that the DNA samples of 144 victims in the Air India plane crash has been successfully matched.

'Air India crash update: As of 12 pm, 144 DNA samples have been matched,' he said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Superintendent Rakesh Joshi said on Tuesday that the number of BJ Medical College students who died because of the Air India crash remains at four.

Speaking to the mediapersons, Rakesh Joshi said,'...The death toll of BJ Medical College students stands at 4. It has not gone up.'

The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft crashed into a hostel complex shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, killing 241 passengers and crew, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. One passenger, Vishwas Kumar, survived the tragic incident. (ANI)