Post-Ahmedabad air crash, go beyond safety inspections

THE tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad has spotlighted the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a jet already burdened with a history of technical and safety concerns. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered enhanced safety inspections for Air India’s entire fleet of Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft. While this is a necessary step, it is also a reactive one. Aviation regulators and manufacturers must move beyond this pattern. The Dreamliner was once hailed as a game-changer in commercial aviation with its fuel-efficient design and advanced composites. However, over the years, reports of structural weaknesses, quality control issues at Boeing’s South Carolina plant and manufacturing delays have raised repeated concerns. The recent crash — involving an 11-year-old aircraft — has reinforced global scrutiny of both the model and Boeing’s production standards.

India’s civil aviation sector is expanding at high speed. Passenger traffic hit record highs in 2024–25 and the fleet size is set to more than double by 2028–29. Infrastructure is rapidly growing, too. From 157 airports today, the target is to increase them to around 350 by 2047 to boost domestic connectivity and tourism. Regional runway projects, like that in Nashik, are underway. Both safety infrastructure and enforcement must be seen to be foolproof, so that if and when accidents happen, it’s not the first thing that comes under a cloud. The DGCA’s directive is a start. Merely responding to tragedy after the fact cannot inspire passenger confidence or ensure systemic improvement.

Boeing, too, must be held accountable. If safety issues stem from manufacturing lapses, the company must face financial penalties and operational restrictions. Passenger safety must never be sacrificed at the altar of commercial expediency. Both manufacturers and regulators must act with foresight, rigour and transparency.

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