Air India plane crash: Turkey denies Dreamliner maintenance link; issues clarification

NEW DELHI: Soon after the Air India passenger plane crash, the Türkiye government issued a statement to debunk claims circulating about the maintenance of the aircraft involved. Some claims had suggested that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which crashed during take-off, had undergone maintenance by Turkish Technic, a leading aviation maintenance company based in Türkiye.

"The claim that “The maintenance of the Boeing 787-8 type passenger plane was carried out by Turkish Technic”, made after an Air India passenger plane crashed during take-off, is not true," said the Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications Center for Countering Disinformation in a post on X.

According to the official statement, the agreements between Air India and Turkish Technic, set for 2024 and 2025, specifically cover maintenance services for B777-type wide-body aircraft only.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner involved in the incident is not included in these agreements. "To date, Turkish Technic has not conducted maintenance on any Air India aircraft of this type," the statement further said.The clarification comes as authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, which has raised concerns about aircraft safety and maintenance protocols. The Türkiye government and Turkish Technic have reiterated their commitment to transparency and cooperation with international aviation bodies to ensure the highest standards of safety and maintenance in the aviation industry.

This comes amid the backdrop of tense ties with Turkey ties after it spoke out in support of Pakistan when India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in its neighbouring nation.Following the anti-India stance, several firms announced severing ties with Turkish firms. Air India also announced plans, earlier this month, to reduce its reliance on Turkish Technic for maintaining its wide-body aircraft. The airline will redirect operations to alternative Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, CEO Campbell Wilson said. This strategic shift aims to optimize maintenance processes and enhance operational efficiency.

Turkish Technic currently conducts heavy maintenance for a portion of Air India's Boeing 777 and 787 fleet.