Investigation Continues into Deadly Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crash in Ahmedabad
The chairman of Air India crash has revealed that one of the engines on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed last week was newly installed just two months prior to the accident, while the second engine was still within its maintenance cycle. The tragic crash of flight AI171, which was bound for London, claimed the lives of at least 270 people when the aircraft crashed less than a minute after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport in western India.
In an exclusive interview with India’s Times Now channel, N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Air India and the parent company Tata Sons, addressed mounting speculation surrounding the crash. “The right engine was a new engine put in March 2025. The left engine was last serviced in 2023 and was due for its next maintenance check in December 2025,” Chandrasekaran confirmed, emphasizing that both engines had “clean histories.”
He urged the public and media not to speculate prematurely. “There are a lot of theories, but the black box data will tell the full story. We need to wait for the investigation results,” he said.
Black Box Analysis Underway
Investigators are meticulously analyzing data retrieved from the aircraft’s black boxes — including both flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders — to reconstruct the final moments before the crash. The black box data is expected to provide crucial insights into what went wrong during the ill-fated takeoff.
The AI171 aircraft involved in the crash was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner equipped with Genx-1B engines manufactured by GE Aerospace. Experts stress that the age of these engines does not necessarily indicate their operational condition.
Engine Age Not Always Linked to Safety
Former investigator with India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, Kishore Chinta, explained to the BBC that engine age alone does not guarantee safety or predict failure, particularly for the Genx-1B model. “The age of the engine has no bearing on its health,” Chinta emphasized.
Unlike older engines that rely on fixed overhaul schedules, the Genx-1B engines are equipped with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) systems, which constantly monitor engine health through digital sensors. Maintenance decisions are made based on this real-time data, combined with physical inspections.
However, certain internal parts known as Life Limited Parts (LLPs) still have fixed lifespan limits based on usage cycles — every engine start and shutdown counts as a cycle, with parts typically rated for 15,000 to 20,000 cycles.
Impact on Air India Operations
In response to the crash, Air India announced a temporary 15% reduction in international operations involving wide-body aircraft through mid-July. The airline cited “compounding circumstances” behind the decision, including enhanced safety protocols, heightened caution among crews, and regional tensions in the Middle East impacting flight logistics.
Inspections have already been completed on 26 out of Air India’s fleet of 33 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft, with all cleared to return to service. The remaining aircraft are scheduled for inspection in the coming days, while the airline’s Boeing 777 fleet will also undergo enhanced safety checks.
“The curtailments are painful but necessary following this devastating event,” Air India said in its official statement.
Air India’s Transformation at Stake
The crash comes at a critical time for Air India, which has been attempting a major transformation under the ownership of Tata Sons. The Indian conglomerate, which also owns global brands like Tetley Tea and Jaguar Land Rover, acquired the formerly state-run airline from the Indian government in 2022 as part of a high-profile privatization deal.
Air India had been plagued for years by financial losses, customer service issues, and aging aircraft before Tata Sons took control. The ongoing investigation — and any potential safety lapses that emerge — could threaten the company’s ambitious turnaround efforts.
“This tragedy adds enormous complexity to Air India’s path forward,” said one aviation analyst. “Public confidence, government oversight, and international scrutiny will only intensify as we await the investigation’s findings.”
Authorities Urge Patience
Indian authorities continue to urge patience as the investigation unfolds, emphasizing the complexity of analyzing technical data and reconstructing accident scenarios. Aviation regulators have assured the public that additional safety checks are underway across the country’s aviation sector to ensure no systemic safety risks remain unaddressed.
The coming weeks will likely determine whether the Air India tragedy was a freak mechanical failure, a human error, or the result of deeper systemic issues that will demand long-term reforms.
Stay tuned for more updates on the ongoing aviation investigation.
