New Delhi, June 14: Following the tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad that claimed 241 lives, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on Saturday said that eight of the 34 Dreamliner planes in the Indian fleet have already been inspected and checks on the remaining aircraft will be completed urgently.
The Union Minister emphasised that the government has started strict safety inspections of all Dreamliner aircraft in India. Speaking at a press conference, the minister said, “We have directed the DGCA to carry out extended surveillance of all Boeing 787 planes. The ministry is taking this incident very seriously.”
“What happened near Ahmedabad airport has shocked the entire country, and I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the victims,” the Union Minister added. Earlier in the day, the minister chaired a high-level meeting at the Civil Aviation Ministry to review the current safety measures. Top officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), and other aviation bodies attended the meeting. To strengthen the ongoing investigation, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has added two new experts — one in forensic analysis and another in medical examination.
According to officials, the black box of the crashed aircraft is expected to reveal key details about what went wrong. This crash, which happened on June 12 and resulted in the deaths of 241 people on board, is the first major fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 in India.
In response to the tragedy, the aviation ministry has made a set of new rules for Dreamliner aircraft. From June 15, a one-time detailed pre-departure check is mandatory for all 787 flights from India. These checks include important systems like fuel management, cabin air compressors, engine controls, and hydraulic systems.
Airlines will also have to examine flight performance data before take-off. The DGCA has introduced new inspections of flight controls during aircraft transit checks and has instructed airlines to carry out power assurance tests within two weeks. All technical issues reported in the past 15 days must also be reviewed and resolved. Airlines are required to send detailed compliance reports to the DGCA.
IANS