'No Major Safety Concerns': Aviation Watchdog Reviews Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet

Last Updated:June 17, 2025, 21:17 IST

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that the recent inspection of Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet has not revealed any significant safety issues. 

Air India flight | Representative Image

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Tuesday that the recent inspection of Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet has not revealed any significant safety issues.

Air India’s Dreamliners came under intense scrutiny from aviation authorities after flight AI 171, bound for London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad at 1:38 pm on June 12, killing 241 of the 242 people on board.

The aviation watchdog said the inspections found both the aircraft and their maintenance systems to be in compliance with current aviation safety standards, offering reassurance amid heightened scrutiny following the recent Ahmedabad crash.

It added that the “Enhanced Safety Inspection" ordered for Air India’s entire Boeing 787-8/9 fleet, which includes 33 planes, is currently underway.

Out of these, 4 aircraft are already in maintenance facilities for major checks. As of 3 PM on June 17, 24 aircraft have passed the safety inspection, said DGCA, adding that two more are expected to finish today, and one more is scheduled for tomorrow.

Of the remaining six planes, two are currently grounded in Delhi and will be inspected once they are ready to fly again. The other four, already under maintenance, will be checked before they are cleared for service.

Aviation authorities have advised Air India to improve how it reports technical issues in real time for better safety and coordination, according to DGCA’s official statement.

“This will help key departments make quicker, better decisions and avoid delays," it added.

The DGCA has also reviewed recent data from Air India’s wide-body operations, especially focusing on the Boeing 787 fleet.

Air India Services Hit

Air India operated 55 flights, of which 16 were cancelled today due to the ongoing scrutiny by the aviation authorities. Of these, 30 were Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights, with 13 cancellations reported—indicating a continued impact on wide-body operations.

An analysis of data from June 12 to 16 shows that Air India operated a total of 407 flights, cancelling 67. Of these, 218 were operated by B787 aircraft, with 53 flights cancelled.

The above data shared by DGCA suggests that Dreamliner cancellations alone accounted for nearly 80 per cent of the total cancellations in this period, highlighting the strain on the B787 fleet amid heightened inspections and operational checks following the recent Ahmedabad incident.

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