After Air India Crash, DGCA Finds Airline's Boeing 787 Fleet In Compliance With Safety Norms
In a bid to assess the ongoing operational stability of India’s leading airlines amidst recent turbulence, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) held a high-level virtual meeting with top management from Air India and Air India Express. In response to heightened safety concerns, DGCA in an official release confirmed that comprehensive surveillance of Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet revealed no significant safety deviations.
The session convened key personnel including Air India Managing Director and CEO Campbell Wilson, Director of Flight Operations Captain Pankul Mathur, and Air India Express CEO Aloke Singh, among others responsible for safety and operational oversight.
The meeting gains significance as the country’s aviation sector remains under scrutiny following the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171, which killed 241 passengers and at least 30 people on the ground. With over 1,000 combined daily flights operated across domestic and international routes, both airlines face intensified regulatory monitoring.
Maintenance Delays and Passenger Disruption Under Lens
One of the key focus areas during the review was recent maintenance-linked delays reported by Air India. The regulator stressed the need for enhanced coordination among engineering, operations, and ground handling teams. DGCA advised both carriers to ensure sufficient spare parts inventory to prevent cascading passenger delays stemming from technical issues.
The ongoing airspace restrictions, particularly over Iranian territory, were also reviewed in detail. These closures have caused widespread flight diversions, cancellations, and extended delays. The DGCA reminded airline management to proactively inform passengers and crew members about such disruptions, referencing the Civil Aviation Requirements Section 3 Series M Part IV & V, which mandates timely communication and facilitation obligations towards passengers.
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Boeing 787 Fleet Declared Compliant Following Extensive Checks
"The recent surveillance conducted on Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet did not reveal any major safety concerns. The aircraft and associated maintenance systems were found to be compliant with existing safety standards," the regulator stated.
The enhanced safety inspections ordered by the DGCA applied to Air India’s entire fleet of 33 Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft. As of 3 PM on June 17, 2025, 24 aircraft successfully cleared the mandated checks. Two more were scheduled for completion later the same day, while one additional aircraft was slated for inspection the following day. Four Dreamliners under ongoing major maintenance checks will undergo inspections prior to their return to service, while two aircraft categorised as AOG (Aircraft on Ground) in Delhi will be inspected once declared serviceable.
Operational Data Highlights Widespread Disruptions
The DGCA also reviewed detailed operational data for the Boeing 787 fleet across multiple dates. On June 12, Air India operated 50 B787 flights with 5 cancellations. The next day saw a sharp increase in cancellations, with 41 flights operated and 11 cancelled. June 14 and 15 recorded 12 and 14 Dreamliner cancellations, respectively, while June 16 logged 11 cancellations out of 39 scheduled B787 flights. On June 17, up to 6 PM, 13 Dreamliner flights were cancelled out of 30 scheduled.
To improve future response mechanisms, DGCA advised the implementation of a real-time defect reporting system, ensuring that critical operational and safety departments receive timely updates. This approach is expected to strengthen decision-making and minimise cascading disruptions.
Reiterating its commitment, DGCA said, "We will continue to monitor the performance of all scheduled operators closely."
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