New Delhi: India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), announced on Tuesday that a thorough inspection of Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet revealed no major safety violations, just days after a deadly crash involving one of the aircraft.
According to the DGCA, the airline’s aircraft and maintenance protocols were found to be in line with existing safety regulations. The statement comes in the wake of Thursday’s crash of a Boeing 787-8 en route to London, which went down shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, striking residential buildings. The accident claimed the lives of 271 people, including all but one of the 242 people aboard and around 30 individuals on the ground.
The aviation authority reported that 24 out of Air India’s 33 Boeing 787s have already undergone a heightened safety inspection mandated by the regulator. During a meeting with top officials from Air India, the DGCA expressed concerns about recent reports of maintenance lapses and urged the airline to fully comply with safety standards.
The regulator also called for improved coordination across the airline’s departments and recommended that the carrier ensure an adequate supply of spare parts to prevent delays and disruptions for passengers.
As air traffic continues to grow, the DGCA is conducting operational reviews of both Air India and its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express.
