Air India Crash: N Chandrasekaran Confirms One Engine Was New

Air India Crash: N Chandrasekaran Confirms One Engine Was New

Engine Status and Aircraft History

N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Air India, has confirmed that one of the engines on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner involved in last week’s fatal crash was newly installed, while the other engine was not due for servicing until later this year. In an interview with Times Now, Chandrasekaran detailed that the right engine had been replaced in March 2025, whereas the left engine underwent its last maintenance in 2023 and was scheduled for its next check in December 2025. He emphasized that both engines had clean operational histories and that the aircraft, registered as AI171, had no prior issues.

The crash occurred less than a minute after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on a London-bound flight, resulting in the deaths of at least 270 people, most of whom were passengers. Investigators are currently examining debris and analyzing data from the aircraft’s black boxes to reconstruct the final moments and determine the cause of the disaster.

Response and Ongoing Investigation

Chandrasekaran urged restraint in the face of widespread speculation, stating, “There are a lot of speculations and a lot of theories. But the fact that I know so far is this particular aircraft, this specific tail, AI171, has a clean history.” He added that definitive answers would emerge once the flight recorders are fully analyzed.

The tragedy comes at a critical juncture for Air India, which is undergoing an ambitious turnaround under the ownership of Tata Sons. The crash presents significant challenges for the airline, threatening its market reputation and potentially affecting investor confidence. For Boeing, the manufacturer of the 787 Dreamliner, the incident intensifies scrutiny as the company continues efforts to restore its reputation following previous safety crises, including the 737 Max disasters.

Technical Considerations and Industry Impact

The crash has also raised questions about the reliability of the Genx-1B engines used on the Boeing 787-8. However, aviation experts caution that engine age does not necessarily reflect its condition. Kishore Chinta, a former investigator with India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, told the BBC that the age of an engine is not indicative of its health, particularly for Genx-1B engines. These engines, produced by GE Aerospace, are equipped with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) systems that continuously monitor engine health and performance, enabling maintenance decisions based on real-time data rather than fixed schedules.

Chinta further explained that while most engine components are digitally monitored, certain parts known as Life Limited Parts (LLPs) have fixed lifespans, typically between 15,000 and 20,000 cycles, with each engine start and shutdown counting as one cycle.

As the investigation proceeds, the broader Indian aviation sector faces heightened scrutiny and the potential for regulatory reforms in response to the tragedy. The findings are expected to have significant implications for Air India, Boeing, and the future of aviation safety standards in India.