**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 174, to be answered on December 11, 2025, regarding the inspection of aircraft, specifically in relation to a prior Air India crash. The Minister of Civil Aviation provides information on inspections conducted and regulations implemented by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ensure aircraft safety. A statement is laid on the table of the House.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Inspections Following Air India Crash:**
* Post-accident (June 12, 2025) of Air India flight AI-171, DGCA ordered inspections of all 787-Dreamliner aircraft.
* Air India's fleet of 33 Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft were inspected.
* Minor findings were observed in 8 aircraft and rectified before their release for operation.
* **DGCA Regulations and Oversight:**
* DGCA has comprehensive civil aviation regulations for safe aircraft operation and maintenance.
* These regulations are continuously updated and aligned with ICAO/EASA standards.
* DGCA approves the Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO) for airlines.
* Airlines maintain aircraft through approved Maintenance Organisations (AMO) and DGCA approved Aircraft Maintenance Programme (AMP).
* **Surveillance and Enforcement:**
* DGCA has a structured surveillance and audit framework (planned and unplanned).
* This includes regular audits, spot checks, night surveillance, and ramp inspections.
* DGCA takes enforcement action for violations per its Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.
* Maintenance data and repetitive defects are closely monitored and reviewed.
* Airlines are analyzed for repetitive defects/snags to identify systemic issues.
* **General Safety Circular**
* DGCA issued General Safety Circular 01 of 2025 on June 19, 2025, titled Comprehensive Special Audit to Assess the Aviation Ecosystem and Strengthen Aviation Safety Architecture.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Air India**
* **Impact:** Air India was required to conduct inspections on its 787-Dreamliner fleet.
* **Action Required:** The airline had to rectify minor findings observed during the inspections.
**Stakeholder: Airline Companies**
* **Impact:** Required to conduct safety checks and inspections of all planes available to them.
* **Action Required:** Maintain aircraft through approved Maintenance Organisations (AMO) and DGCA approved Aircraft Maintenance Programme (AMP).
**Stakeholder: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for issuing regulations, conducting oversight, and taking enforcement actions related to aircraft safety.
* **Action Required:** Continue updating and aligning regulations with international standards, maintaining structured surveillance and audit framework, and acting on violations.
**Stakeholder: Passengers**
* **Impact:** Intended to improve air travel safety.
* **Action Required:** None.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The primary regulator responsible for civil aviation in India, tasked with conducting safety inspections and issuing directives related to aircraft maintenance.
Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 174: The parliamentary question regarding inspection of aircrafts
Air India: The airline company referenced regarding the inspection of aircrafts
Boeing 787: The type of aircraft subject to inspections following an incident
General Safety Circular 01 of 2025: A circular issued by the DGCA to assess the aviation ecosystem and strengthen safety.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. : 174
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11th December 2025 )
INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFTS
174. SHRI K GOPINATH
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
a) whether the Government has conducted the inspections/checks of all 787-Dreamliner
aircrafts after the incident of Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad in which 241 people died;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the outcome of the said checks/inspections;
(c) whether the Government has directed the airline companies to conduct safety
checks/inspections of all the planes available with them;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the response of the airline companies in this regard; and
(e) the details of other measures taken/being taken by the Government to make air travel
more safe and secure?
ANSWER
Minister of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the table of House.
******STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) IN
RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 174 FOR REPLY
ON 11.12.2025 REGARDING "INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFTS" BY SHRI K
GOPINATH"; ; (a) to (e): Post-accident of Air India flight AI-171 Boeing 787
aircraft on 12.06.2025, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued
order to airline to conduct the checks/inspections of all 787-Dreamliner aircraft.
Air India had 33 Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft in its fleet. Total 33 aircraft were
inspected by airline wherein, minor findings were observed in 8 aircraft during
the inspection. These aircraft were released for operation after rectification of
the findings.;; ; DGCA has laid down comprehensive civil aviation regulations
for safe operation of aircraft and its maintenance. These regulations are
continuously updated and aligned with the International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO)/European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
standards. DGCA approves the Continuing Airworthiness Management
Organisation (CAMO) of the airline for the management of continued
airworthiness of its aircraft. Accordingly, airlines maintain the aircraft through
the approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO) as per DGCA approved
Aircraft Maintenance Programme (AMP)/ Manufacturer guidelines.; ; DGCA
has a structured surveillance and audit framework in place i.e. planned and
unplanned surveillance of organization /aircraft, which includes regular and
periodic audits, spot checks, night surveillance and ramp inspections across all
operators, including continuous oversight of maintenance practices. In case
there is a violation, DGCA takes enforcement action as per its Enforcement
Policy and Procedure Manual.;; ; DGCA is closely monitoring and reviewing
the maintenance data and repetitive defects reported across all airlines. All
scheduled airlines aircraft have been analyzed for repetitive defects/ snags being
encountered in the aircraft to identify systemic issues and ensure timely
corrective action. DGCA has also issued General Safety Circular 01 of 2025 on
19 June, 2025, titled Comprehensive Special Audit to Assess the Aviation
Ecosystem and Strengthen Aviation Safety Architecture.