DGCA finds 'no major safety concerns' in Air India's Boeing 787 fleet; mandated checks underway

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday said 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 Ministry of Civil Aviation said, adding that its surveillance of Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet, comprising 33 aircraft, is underway and that a total of 24 aircraft have successfully completed the required check.

The ministry data released today showed that 66 Air India flights operated with Boeing 787 aircraft were cancelled between June 12 and June 17.

The aviation regulator on Monday summoned the executives of Air India and Air India Express amid the probe investigating the crash of Air India Flight 171 and the ongoing disruptions on its flight network. Among those who are summoned were Campbell Wilson, Air India’s MD and CEO, Director of Flight Operations Captain Pankul Mathur, and Air India Express CEO Aloke Singh, along with other key management personnel who are responsible for maintaining operations and safety compliance.

As per the “Enhanced Safety Inspection” mandated by the regulator, as of 1500 hrs on 17 June 2025, 24 aircraft had been checked successfully, while an additional 2 aircraft were planned for completion on June 17, with 1 more scheduled for June 18. "The remaining 6 aircraft include 2 aircraft, which are presently Aircraft on Ground (AOG) at Delhi. The checks on these two will be carried out post-declaration of serviceability and prior to their return to service. The remaining 4 aircraft currently under MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) will undergo the mandated check prior to their release from the respective maintenance hangars," the ministry said.

The DGCA also held a high-level meeting with senior officials of Air India and Air India Express, who are currently operating over 1,000 flights daily across domestic and international sectors. The meeting was convened to review the operational robustness of the airlines and ensure continued compliance with safety and passenger service regulations.

DGCA officials discussed key issues, including maintenance-related delays, airspace restrictions, passenger information and facilitation, enhanced safety inspection, and operational coordination. They also reviewed wide-body flight operational data.

Concerns over recent maintenance-related issues

The regulator, in its meeting with these airlines' officials, raised "concerns" regarding recent maintenance-related issues reported by the carrier. The airline was advised to strengthen internal coordination across engineering, operations, and ground handling units, ensure the availability of adequate spares to mitigate passenger delays resulting from such issues, and strictly adhere to regulations.

The impact of recent airspace closures, particularly over Iranian airspace, was reviewed. The closures have led to flight diversions, delays, and cancellations. The operators have been asked to ensure timely communication with passengers and crew and adopt alternate routing strategies to minimise disruptions.

The operators were directed to inform passengers well in advance regarding delays and cancellations. "Emphasis was placed on effective passenger facilitation and timely dissemination of information through all available channels."

To ensure that operational and safety-critical departments receive timely updates, these carriers have been directed to implement a more systematic and real-time defect reporting mechanism. This is expected to enhance overall decision-making and reduce downstream disruptions. The regulator also reviewed recent operational data for Air India’s wide-body operations, with specific attention to the Boeing 787 fleet.

Air India, meanwhile, cancelled six international flights involving Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners due to extensive safety checks following the fatal crash of AI171 in Ahmedabad. The cancellations include routes to Vienna, Dubai, London, and Paris. The airline is conducting precautionary checks on its fleet, while a high-level committee investigates the crash, which resulted in significant insurance claims.