In the wake of the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI-171, airline officials have provided assurances that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner involved was free from any technical or maintenance issues prior to departure. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson and Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran issued statements confirming that both aircraft and engine systems had successfully passed all recent inspections.
Wilson emphasized the high maintenance standards of the aircraft, noting its last major inspection was conducted in June 2023, with the next one scheduled for December 2025. He stated, “Both the aircraft and engines were regularly monitored and showed no issues before the flight.” Following the incident, Air India has initiated enhanced safety checks across its Boeing 787 fleet, with 26 out of 33 Dreamliners already cleared to resume operations.
Chandrasekaran highlighted the recent maintenance of the engines, indicating that the right engine had been newly installed in March 2025, while the left engine had undergone servicing earlier in 2023. He reassured that there had been no indications of safety concerns, emphasizing that Dreamliners globally maintain a strong safety record.
Addressing the professionalism of the flight crew, the executives noted that the aircraft was captained by Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot and trainer with over 10,000 hours of flying experience on widebody jets, and supported by First Officer Clive Kunder, who has logged over 3,400 flight hours.
The crash, which took place shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, resulted in the tragic loss of 241 lives on board and 34 fatalities on the ground. In response to this catastrophe, Air India has temporarily scaled down its international widebody operations by 15% to focus on comprehensive safety inspections across its fleet.
As investigations into the cause of the crash continue, both Wilson and Chandrasekaran urged caution against jumping to conclusions. Chandrasekaran emphasized the importance of the black box data in piecing together the events leading up to the tragedy. Preliminary findings from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation are anticipated within a month.
In a statement reflecting their sorrow, Air India conveyed deep condolences to the families of the victims and reiterated their commitment to upholding the highest standards of passenger safety.
