Aviation Minister Orders Immediate Inspection of AI’s 787 Fleet

Aviation Minister Orders Immediate Inspection of Air India’s 787 Fleet

Urgent Safety Measures Following June 12 Crash

New Delhi’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has mandated immediate safety inspections of Air India’s entire Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet in the wake of the June 12 crash. Committed to enhancing aviation safety, Naidu pledged to take “all necessary steps” to address concerns surrounding the aircraft. This directive arrives amid intensified global scrutiny of the Boeing 787, as regulators and airlines respond to mounting apprehensions about the model’s safety record.

Air India confirmed via its official social media channel that inspections ordered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are currently underway. The airline reported that nine aircraft have already undergone checks, with plans to complete inspections on the remaining 24 within the regulator’s stipulated timeframe. However, Air India cautioned that these extended inspections may cause delays on long-haul routes, advising passengers to verify flight statuses prior to travel.

Operational and Industry Implications

The requirement to inspect all 33 Dreamliners within a constrained period presents significant operational and financial challenges for Air India. Industry experts suggest that such comprehensive inspections could lead to higher insurance premiums for operators and potentially affect Air India’s stock market performance. The wider aviation sector is also responding, with other airlines operating the 787 reportedly considering proactive safety reviews of their own fleets. Concurrently, Boeing faces increasing pressure to resolve potential systemic issues in the 787 production process, particularly as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prepares to examine non-compliant titanium components found in certain 787 models.

Investigations and Safety Reforms

At his first press conference since the accident, Minister Naidu announced the establishment of a high-level committee, chaired by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, to investigate the crash and propose long-term aviation safety reforms. This committee, formed following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the crash site, will function independently of the ongoing probe, focusing on systemic improvements to prevent future incidents.

The Airports Accident Investigation Bureau is leading the primary investigation, while the newly formed committee will work concurrently to identify root causes, including mechanical failure, human error, and regulatory shortcomings. The panel is also tasked with developing updated standard operating procedures aligned with international best practices, with a report expected by September 13.

Naidu confirmed the recovery of the aircraft’s black box, noting that its analysis should provide critical insights into the sequence of events preceding the crash. Union Aviation Secretary Samir Sinha added that the aircraft had safely completed a flight from Paris to Ahmedabad before the accident. He detailed that during the Ahmedabad-London leg, the pilot issued a Mayday call shortly after takeoff, but communication with air traffic control ceased, and the aircraft crashed approximately two kilometers from the airport.

Compensation and Industry Response

In response to the tragedy, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson announced an interim compensation payment of Rs 25 lakh to each family of the deceased and to the sole survivor, supplementing the Rs 1 crore already pledged by Tata Sons. As investigations proceed, the aviation industry faces heightened regulatory scrutiny and a renewed emphasis on safety and compliance, particularly among operators of the Boeing 787 worldwide.