DGCA orders enhanced safety inspections of Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet following crash

Following the June 12 crash of AI-171, DGCA has mandated enhanced safety checks across Air India’s Boeing 787-8/9 fleet with Genx engines, effective from midnight, 15 June, 2025

South First Desk

Published Jun 13, 2025 | 6:46 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 13, 2025 | 6:46 PM

A Boeing 787.

Synopsis: In response to the June 12 crash of Air India Flight AI-171, the DGCA has ordered enhanced safety inspections of Air India’s Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft with Genx engines. The directive mandates one-time checks before departure, power assurance tests, and additional in-transit inspections to ensure airworthiness and prevent further incidents across the airline’s Dreamliner fleet

In the wake of the recent crash involving Air India Flight AI-171, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a directive mandating enhanced safety inspections of Air India’s Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft equipped with Genx engines. 

The accident occurred on 12 June, when a B787-800 aircraft operating the Ahmedabad to London Gatwick route met with a tragic mishap.

The aviation regulator has ordered a series of additional maintenance checks to be implemented across the entire B787 fleet operated by Air India, effective from 00:00 hours on 15 June, 2025. These include:

One-time pre-departure checks from India, focusing on:

• • Fuel parameter monitoring and associated systems
  • Cabin air compressor and related systems
  • Electronic Engine Control system testing
  • Operational tests and oil system checks of the engine fuel-driven actuator
  • Hydraulic system serviceability
  • Review of take-off parameters

In addition, DGCA has directed that Flight Control Inspections be introduced as part of transit checks for the aircraft until further notice.

Also Read: Air India flight crash renews scrutiny of Boeing’s troubled Dreamliner programme

Air India to submit compliance report

The regulator also instructed the airline to carry out power assurance checks on all B787 aircraft within the next two weeks. 

Furthermore, a review of repetitive technical snags over the past 15 days must be conducted, and maintenance action closed accordingly.

Air India has been asked to submit a detailed compliance report on all the mandated checks to the DGCA for review.

The safety directive was issued with the approval of the competent authority as a preventive measure aimed at ensuring the continued airworthiness of the fleet and safeguarding passenger safety in light of the recent tragedy.

(Edited by Ananya Rao)

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