No main security issues have been discovered within the latest surveillance performed on Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet following the crash on June 12, based on the Directorate Basic of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The DGCA, nevertheless, did increase issues over latest maintenance-related points reported by the airline in a gathering with senior Air India group officers, as per an official assertion from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).
The DGCA Tuesday held a “high-level” assembly with prime brass of AI and its subsidiary airline Air India Specific to assessment “operational robustness of the airways and guarantee continued compliance with security and passenger service rules”.
In the meantime, 13 Boeing 787-operated AI flights had been cancelled Tuesday (till 6 pm) as the improved security inspections mandated by DGCA and airspace closures in West Asia led to delays and non-availability of plane for some flights, based on sources within the know.
On the assembly, the airline was suggested by the regulator to “strictly adhere to rules” and strengthen coordination amongst its engineering, operations, and floor dealing with models, and guarantee availability of ample spares to mitigate passenger delays ensuing from such points.
The regulator additionally advisable the implementation of a extra systematic and real-time defect reporting mechanism to make sure that operational and safety-critical departments obtain well timed updates. That is anticipated to boost general decision-making and scale back downstream disruptions in flight operations.
“The latest surveillance performed on Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet didn’t reveal any main security issues. The plane and related upkeep techniques had been discovered to be compliant with present security requirements… The ‘Enhanced Security Inspection’ mandated is relevant to the whole Air India B787-8/9 fleet, comprising 33 plane. Of those, 4 plane are presently present process main checks at varied MRO (upkeep, restore, and overhaul) amenities. As of 1500 hrs on 17 June 2025, a complete of 24 plane have efficiently accomplished the required verify. A further 2 plane are deliberate for completion right now, with 1 extra scheduled for tomorrow,” the MoCA assertion mentioned.
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One other two 787s of AI are grounded in Delhi and the checks on these will probably be executed earlier than they return to service, whereas the remaining 4 plane presently at MROs will bear the mandated verify previous to their launch from upkeep.
Following the crash final week killing all however one in all 242 individuals on board, the DGCA had directed the airline to hold out extra upkeep inspections on all 33 of its 787s.
The improved checks ordered by the DGCA embrace a one-time pre-departure verify of plane techniques and parameters together with gasoline parameters monitoring and related system, cabin air compressor and related techniques, digital engine management system, engine gasoline pushed actuator and oil system, hydraulic system serviceability, and take-off parameters. Moreover, flight management inspection was to be launched in transit inspection until additional discover. Energy assurance checks had been additionally mandated. On Saturday, Air India had introduced that the checks had been being carried out, and knowledgeable passengers that a few of these might “result in larger turnaround time and potential delays on sure long-haul routes particularly these to airports with working curfews”.
Based on knowledge shared by MoCA, AI had operated a complete of 55 wide-body aircraft-operated flights on Tuesday until 6 pm, whereas 16 had been cancelled. Of those 16 cancelled flights, 13 had been to be operated by the Boeing 787 plane. Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet operated 30 flights on Tuesday, as of 6 pm. Since Thursday, 66 787-operated flights of AI have been cancelled, whereas the variety of flights operated stands at 248.
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The Boeing 787-operated flight that had been cancelled on Tuesday included AI 143 (Delhi-Paris), AI 159 (Ahmedabad-London Gatwick), AI 915 (Delhi-Dubai), AI 153 (Delhi-Vienna), and AI 133 (Bengaluru-London). In most of those instances, because the flight from India was cancelled, it led to the cancellation of the return leg that was to be operated by the identical plane. The quantity could rise and in some instances, spill over to Wednesday.
Provided that the latest airspace closures, significantly in West Asia, have been contributing to flight delays, diversions, and cancellations, the DGCA requested Air India and Air India Specific to make sure well timed communication with passengers and crew, and undertake alternate routing methods to minimise disruptions. The airspace closures have affected flights to components of West Asia, Europe, and North America from India.
“The operators had been reminded of their obligations beneath the related Civil Aviation Necessities…to tell passengers nicely prematurely concerning delays and cancellations. Emphasis was positioned on efficient passenger facilitation and well timed dissemination of data by way of all out there channels,” the DGCA mentioned.