India Orders Inspection of All Boeing 787 Aircraft

The Voice News: India’s civil aviation regulator has ordered a detailed inspection of all Boeing 787 aircraft operated by domestic airlines. The directive comes in the wake of a catastrophic Air India crash in Ahmedabad that killed 270 people. On Saturday (14 June), India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that authorities are investigating all possible causes of the disaster. The news has been reported by Reuters and multiple Indian media outlets.On Friday, the regulatory agency instructed Air India to conduct enhanced maintenance checks on its Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft. These checks include reviewing specific take-off parameters, inspecting the electronic engine control systems, and conducting a fuel-related audit of the engines.Speaking at a press briefing in Delhi, Minister Naidu said: “We have also instructed increased surveillance on Boeing 787 aircraft. There are 34 Boeing 787 aircraft in India’s fleet. Inspections have already been completed on 8 of them, and urgent work has begun on the rest.”However, he did not clarify whether government officials themselves would participate in the inspections.The crash occurred on Thursday afternoon shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, en route to London. The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a medical hostel near the airport. According to India’s Civil Aviation Department, the aircraft was carrying 232 passengers and 10 crew members. Authorities have confirmed the death toll to be 241.This is being described as the most devastating air disaster in the world in the past decade.According to Flightradar24, Air India operates 33 Boeing 787 aircraft, while rival airline IndiGo owns one 787, although IndiGo has not commented on the incident.In a statement regarding the inspections, Air India said they are currently carrying out a one-time safety audit as per regulatory orders. However, they warned that the process might take longer than expected, which could lead to delays on some long-haul routes.Reuters reports that investigators are focusing on engine thrust, flap function, and why the landing gear remained deployed during takeoff.Dr. Dhaval Gameti, president of the Junior Doctors’ Association at BJ Medical College, stated that at least 270 bodies have been recovered from the crash site. Of the 242 people on board, only one person survived. The rest were killed when the aircraft struck the medical college hostel building.