The move came a day after Indian officials told the airline to improve its operations, and as delays and canceled flights are drawing complaints from passengers.

One of the engines of the Air India plane that crashed last week was new, while the other was not due for servicing until December, the airline's chairman has said. In an interview with an Indian news channel,

Ravi Thakor had been hoping his mother and two-year old daughter had escaped just before an Air India jet crashed into the building they were in.