New Delhi: In the aftermath of the tragic Air India AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu announced a nationwide intensified inspection drive for all Boeing 787 aircraft operating in the Indian aviation fleet.
Speaking to the media in Delhi, Naidu emphasized that India maintains some of the strictest aviation safety norms, but added that the recent incident prompted a deeper evaluation of aircraft safety, especially concerning the Dreamliner series.
“We have very strict safety standards in the country… When the incident happened, we also felt that there is a need to do an extended surveillance into the Boeing 787 Series,” said the Minister.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has already initiated an “extended surveillance” of the Boeing 787 fleet in India. As per Naidu, there are 34 Boeing 787 aircraft currently in operation in Indian carriers.
“DGCA has also given an order to do the extended surveillance for the 787 planes. I believe that 8 have already been inspected, and with immediate urgency, all of them are going to be done,” he stated.
This decision follows mounting public concern and calls for greater transparency after the Ahmedabad crash, which claimed the lives of over 250 people. The only survivor, a British national, is currently recovering in a city hospital.
