Air India has completed safety inspections on nine of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners in response to a one-time directive issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), following the fatal crash of Air India Flight 171. The June 12 accident marked the first-ever hull loss of a Boeing 787 aircraft and resulted in 241 fatalities shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad.
The DGCA’s emergency order requires technical inspections of all 34 GEnx-powered Boeing 787s in Air India’s fleet, including 27 787-8s and seven 787-9s. The checks focus on fuel systems, engine control units, flight control surfaces, and takeoff performance, and must be completed within a specified regulatory timeline.
Air India says it remains on track to finish inspections, though extended turnaround times may cause delays on long-haul routes, particularly at curfew-restricted airports. Customers are advised to check their flight status, with refunds and rescheduling offered for affected services.
The investigation into Flight 171 is being led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in coordination with Boeing, GE Aerospace, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the UK’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Branch. GE Aerospace, which manufactures the engines involved, has deployed a support team and is assisting global regulators.
International response to the crash has grown, with Japan’s transport ministry ordering similar 787 fleet inspections across ANA, Japan Airlines, AirJapan, and ZipAir. Despite growing scrutiny, U.S. regulators say current safety data does not warrant grounding the Boeing 787 fleet.
The crashed aircraft, VT-ANB, had passed a major scheduled maintenance (C-check) in June 2023, with both engines receiving separate inspections and overhaul work earlier this year. No mechanical issues were reported before the crash.
Swifteradio.com
