Air India Faces Grounding Call as Pilots Warn of Boeing 787 Failures
Pilots’ union urges grounding of Air India’s Boeing 787s over safety concerns, but airline denies systemic issues.
The Federation of Indian Pilots escalated concerns over air safety by demanding the immediate grounding of all Boeing 787 aircraft operated by Air India, following reported electronic malfunctions on two flights: AI-154 (Vienna-Delhi, diverted to Dubai on October 9) and AI-117 (landing in Birmingham on October 4). The pilots pointed to failures in critical systems like autopilot and flight controls, as well as an uncommanded deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) on AI-117, alleging poor serviceability linked to newly hired engineers replacing experienced staff from the government-owned AIESEL. The call to action, addressed to Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu, cited the tragic AI-171 Boeing 787-8 crash on June 12, which killed 260 people, as evidence of unresolved safety risks.
Air India swiftly rebuffed the allegations, denying claims of systemic electrical failures and emphasizing that passenger and crew safety remains its top priority. Regarding AI-154, the airline clarified that the flight was diverted to Dubai due to a technical issue but landed safely, with passengers informed, provided refreshments, and transported to Delhi on the same aircraft without further incident. For AI-117, Air India stated that the RAT deployment during final approach was “un-commanded,” consistent with rare occurrences reported by Boeing across other airlines, and all electrical and hydraulic parameters remained normal. The airline notified the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and submitted preliminary reports, with both aircraft cleared for service post-inspection.
The pilots’ concerns stem from a broader unease, referencing the catastrophic AI-171 crash, a London-bound Boeing 787-8 that nosedived into a residential area in Ahmedabad seconds after takeoff due to a failure to generate thrust. The Federation argued that recurring issues with Boeing 787s signal inadequate investigation into root causes, compromising air travel safety. Their letter accused Air India of maintenance lapses, particularly attributing recent engineering transitions as a factor in declining serviceability, a charge the airline implicitly dismissed by highlighting compliance with regulatory protocols and Boeing’s technical assessments.
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Air India’s response underscores its confidence in the Boeing 787’s operational integrity, aligning its findings with global incidents where RAT deployments were anomalies rather than systemic faults. The airline’s proactive engagement with the DGCA and transparent communication with passengers aim to restore trust amid heightened scrutiny. However, the Federation’s bold demand reflects a growing tension between pilot unions and airline management, spotlighting the need for rigorous safety audits in India’s aviation sector, especially following high-profile incidents that have shaken public confidence.
As Air India defends its maintenance standards and the pilots press for accountability, the resolution of this dispute will likely shape perceptions of India’s flagship carrier and the reliability of its Boeing fleet, with implications for millions of passengers nationwide.
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