Following an accident involving an Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered enhanced safety inspections for the airline’s entire Boeing 787-8/9 fleet. The incident occurred on a flight from Ahmedabad International Airport to Gatwick, London. The aircraft, AI-171, crashed shortly after takeoff. Of the 242 passengers on board, only one survived. The flight was captained by Sumit Sabharwal, an experienced pilot with 8,200 flight hours, and co-piloted by First Officer Clive Kunder, who had 1,100 hours. The DGCA’s directive mandates immediate additional maintenance actions on all B787-8/9 aircraft equipped with Genx engines. These actions include a review of recent technical issues, pre-departure checks on fuel and cabin air systems, engine and hydraulic system inspections, and a review of takeoff parameters. Flight control inspections are also to be introduced, and power assurance checks must be conducted within two weeks. The DGCA requires a report on these checks for review.
