DGCA Orders Enhanced Inspections of Air India’s Boeing 787 Fleet Following Ahmedabad Crash

National Times Bureau, June 13, 2025: In the wake of India’s deadliest civil aviation disaster, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a directive mandating enhanced inspections of Air India’s entire Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The move follows the catastrophic crash of Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, which claimed the lives of all 232 people on board and at least five medical students on the ground. It marked the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 in global aviation history.

The DGCA’s directive comes amid growing scrutiny of the aircraft’s safety and technical performance. The regulator has asked Air India to carry out “additional maintenance actions” on its 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft. These include comprehensive checks of flight control systems, structural components, avionics, and the GEnx engines manufactured by GE Aerospace.

While officials have not confirmed a direct link between the crash and mechanical failure, the DGCA has stressed the importance of precautionary inspections to “ensure continued airworthiness.” The aircraft involved in the Ahmedabad tragedy was reportedly a Dreamliner fitted with GE engines. Global aviation experts and Boeing representatives are now working with the DGCA as part of a joint investigation effort, with the aircraft’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders already recovered.

Despite the gravity of the incident, the DGCA has not ordered a grounding of the Dreamliner fleet. Air India continues to operate its 787 aircraft, although each plane will undergo enhanced safety inspections before further deployment.

This response is being closely watched by international aviation regulators, especially as the Dreamliner is a key aircraft model used in long-haul international routes by carriers worldwide. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are also reportedly monitoring developments in India.

Air India, now owned by Tata Sons, has pledged full cooperation with investigators. The airline is also facilitating compensation and support for victims’ families. Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran has already announced ₹1 crore as ex gratia to each victim’s family and additional support for the BJ Medical College, where many students were injured or killed when the aircraft plunged into its mess area.

The DGCA’s swift intervention underscores the severity of the crash and India’s commitment to maintaining aviation safety standards. As the investigation continues, both the government and the airline face mounting pressure to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated.