Executive Summary:
This document is the response from the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding the inspection of Boeing 787-8 aircraft following an incident with Air India flight AI171 on June 12, 2025. It details inspections conducted on Air India's fleet, regulatory standards for aircraft maintenance, and the formation of a high-level committee to recommend improvements and guidelines for future incidents, with a report due within three months of June 13, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Boeing 787 Dreamliner Inspections:
* DGCA ordered Air India to inspect all 787 Dreamliner aircraft following the Air India AI171 incident on June 12, 2025.
* 31 of Air India's 33 operational Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft were inspected, with minor findings in 8 aircraft, which were rectified and released for operation.
* The remaining 2 aircraft are undergoing scheduled maintenance.
Regulatory Standards and Aircraft Maintenance:
* DGCA maintains comprehensive civil aviation regulations for safe aircraft operation and maintenance, aligned with ICAO and EASA standards.
* DGCA approves the airline's Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO).
* Airlines maintain aircraft through Approved Maintenance Organisations (AMO) as per DGCA-approved Aircraft Maintenance Programme (AMP) and manufacturer guidelines.
High-Level Committee:
* A high-level committee was formed on June 13, 2025, chaired by the Union Home Secretary, to provide comprehensive guidelines for handling future incidents.
* The committee is to submit its report within three months of its formation.
* Key objectives of the committee:
* Recommend improvements and formulate SOPs to prevent future incidents.
* Suggest policy changes, operational improvements, and training enhancements.
* Assess emergency response and coordination among stakeholders.
Impact Analysis:
Air India:
* Impact: Required to conduct and complete inspections of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet and rectify any findings.
* Action Required: Continue to maintain aircraft according to DGCA-approved AMP and manufacturer guidelines.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA):
* Impact: Responsible for ensuring compliance with civil aviation regulations and continuous improvement of these regulations.
* Action Required: Continue to update and align regulations with ICAO and EASA standards, and approve airline's CAMO.
Union Home Secretary and High-Level Committee:
* Impact: Tasked with developing comprehensive guidelines for handling incidents.
* Action Required: Submit a report with recommendations within three months of June 13, 2025.
Central and State Governments:
* Impact: Subject to assessment of their emergency response and coordination during incidents.
* Action Required: Implement suggested policy changes, operational improvements, and training enhancements recommended by the High-Level Committee.
Key Entities Referenced
Air India flight AI171: A specific flight incident that occurred on 12.06.2025, prompting investigations and safety checks.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation: The aviation regulatory body in India, abbreviated as DGCA, responsible for mandating inspections and setting regulations for aircraft operations and maintenance.
Boeing 7878: A specific type of aircraft that is the subject of immediate inspection mandated by the DGCA.
Air India: An airline company that operates Boeing 787Dreamliner aircraft and is subject to DGCA inspections and directives.
International Civil Aviation Organisation: An international organization, abbreviated as ICAO, whose standards are aligned with DGCA regulations for safe aircraft operation.
European Union Aviation Safety Agency: An aviation safety agency, abbreviated as EASA, whose standards are aligned with DGCA regulations for safe aircraft operation.
Union Home Secretary: The chairman of the HighLevel Committee constituted on 13.06.2025 to suggest comprehensive guidelines for dealing with incidents like the Air India Flight AI171 incident.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for civil aviation matters, headed by the Minister of Civil Aviation and Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
Lok Sabha
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 793
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24th July 2025 )
INSPECTION OF BOEING 787-8 AIRPLANES
793. SHRI BALYA MAMA SURESH GOPINATH MHATRE
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has
mandated immediate inspection of Boeing 787-8 aircraft and if so,
the details thereof along with the time by which it is likely to be
completed;
(b) whether safety re-inspection of other aircrafts in Air India and
other airlines is also underway and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of the improvements proposed in pilot training,
aircraft lifecycle management and regular approval systems;
(d) whether the Government has received the preliminary report of
the high-level committee and if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the possible causes of the crash (such as engine failure,
technical faults, bird strike, etc.) have been clearly identified
therein and if so, the details thereof;
(f) whether the final report of the committee would be made public
and if so, the details thereof;
(g) whether a time-bound action plan has been prepared to
implement the corrective measures mentioned in the report; and
(h) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWERMinister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (c): Post-accident of Air India flight AI-171 on 12.06.2025,
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered Air India to
conduct the checks/inspections of all the 787-Dreamliner aircraft.
Air India has 33 Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft in its fleet. Out of the total
33 aircraft, 31 operational 787-Dreamliner (Boeing 787-8/9) aircraft
have been inspected wherein, minor findings were observed in 8
aircraft during the inspection. These aircraft have been released for
operation after rectification in respect of the findings. The
remaining 2 aircraft are under scheduled maintenance.;
;
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 prescribed based upon the utilisation of
the aircraft. The Manufacturer prescribes the improvement in life
cycle management. ;
;
(d) to (h): A High-Level Committee was constituted on 13.06.2025
under the chairmanship of the Union Home Secretary to suggest
comprehensive guidelines for dealing with such instances in the
future post Air India Flight AI-171 incident. The Committee is to
submit its report within three months.
;
The key objectives of the Committee are given below:;
1) Recommend necessary improvements and formulate suitable SOP
to prevent such incidents in the future.2) Suggest policy changes, operational improvements and training
enhancements required to prevent such occurrences and handle
post-crash incident situation.
3) Assess emergency response of various stakeholders (both
Central and State Governments), including rescue operations, and
coordination among them.
******