In a significant move to bolster aviation safety, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed Air India to carry out immediate and additional maintenance checks on its fleet of Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft powered by Genx engines. The directive, issued on Friday, June 13, comes a day after a tragic crash involving an Air India Boeing 787-8 operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, which resulted in the deaths of 241 passengers and crew. Only one person survived the crash.
The DGCA, in a letter to the airline dated June 13, laid out a series of mandatory inspections and tests that must begin from midnight on June 15, 2025. These include a one-time pre-departure check for all 787-8 and 787-9 flights departing from India. The inspections will focus on fuel parameter monitoring systems, cabin air compressors, electronic engine control systems, and operational tests of the engine’s fuel-driven actuator and oil systems. Additionally, serviceability checks of the hydraulic system and a review of take-off parameters are also mandated.
The aviation watchdog has further instructed that a ‘Flight Control Inspection’ be incorporated into all transit checks until further notice. Power assurance checks must be completed within two weeks. Air India is also required to identify and address any recurring maintenance issues noted in the past 15 days. All findings from these inspections are to be submitted to the DGCA for evaluation.
The directive, approved by the competent authority, aims to enhance operational safety and ensure strict adherence to regulatory standards. These maintenance activities will be coordinated with DGCA’s regional offices.
Air India, now part of the Tata Group, operates 33 Dreamliners – 26 Boeing 787-8s and 7 Boeing 787-9s – all equipped with General Electric’s Genx engines.
The cause of June 12’s crash is under investigation, and the DGCA is expected to work closely with Air India and engine manufacturers as part of a comprehensive safety review.
An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. The aircraft went down in the densely populated Meghani Nagar area, just outside the perimeter of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Investigators probing the deadly crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 have recovered one of the aircraft’s two black boxes. The Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) was found on the rooftop of a building near the crash site.
Efforts are still ongoing to locate the second black box, the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which remains unaccounted for. Authorities have yet to confirm its status.
