AI 171 crash fallout: DGCA order enhanced checks for Air India Dreamliners with GE engines

NEW DELHI: Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliners powered by General Electric GEnx engines will now operate under enhanced safety inspections. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued this directive a day after an AI Dreamliner’s (VT-ANB) accident crashed in Ahmedabad seconds after taking off for London, killing 241 people onboard and several others in the building on the roof of which it had crashed.As a “preventive measure,” the regulator has directed AI to “carry out additional maintenance actions on B787-8/9 aircrafts equipped with GEnx engines with immediate effect in coordination with the concerned regional DGCA offices.” While B787-8 are Dreamliners of AI, the B787-9 version was in the fleet of Vistara, which merged into AI last Nov.The additional checks mandated for AI include: “One time check before departure of flight from India from June 15, 2025, (12 am) onwards.

Inspection of fuel parameter monitoring and associated system checks. Inspection of cabin air compressor and associated systems. Electronic engine control-system test. Engine fuel driven actuator-operational test and oil system check. Serviceability check of hydraulic system.

Review of take-off parameters. 'Flight control inspection' to be introduced in transit inspection till further notice. Power assurance checks to be carried out within two weeks.

Closure of maintenance action based upon the review of repetitive snags during the last 15 days on B787-8/9 aircraft at the earliest.”AI has to submit report of these checks to the DGCA for review.Like all initial Dreamliners, VT-ANB had its share of troubles like windshield crack soon after it was inducted in AL fleet in 2014. But Boeing was able to overcome these teething troubles with its mid-range wide body aircraft, with the most serious being overheating of lithium-ion batteries on the Dreamliner.

In Jan 2013, all Dreamliners were briefly grounded globally due to safety concerns related to lithium-ion batteries.

Once the systemic issues were sorted out, VT-ANB — like all aircraft — also had its share of other snags. Most recently, while flying as A! 148 from London to Hyderabad on Nov 17, 2021, it had diverted to Ankara due to fuel leak.“There are 1,148 Boeing 787 variants in service globally, with an average age of 7.5 years old.

Air India had 34 of the Boeing 787 in service at the time of the incident, including this aircraft. The airline has an additional 20 787 on order and letter of intent for options an additional 24 aircraft. In total, Air India has 190 aircraft, with an average age of 8.4 years old,” according to flight data site Cirium.In a statement, GE Aerospace said: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Air India Flight AI-171. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of those impacted. We have activated our emergency response team, and we are prepared to support our customer and the investigation."