Is Boeing Safe? India Investigates After Air India Crash

Picture Credit: www.bbc.co.uk

In the wake of a tragic plane crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, India has launched a thorough investigation into the safety of Boeing aircraft operating in the country. The London-bound Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, killing 241 passengers and crew. Only one person survived the incident, which also claimed the lives of 33 people on the ground, including MBBS students and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has begun analyzing both black boxes recovered from the wreckage — the Cockpit Voice Recorder and the Flight Data Recorder — in hopes of uncovering what caused the catastrophic failure.

In response to the crash, Indian aviation authorities swiftly inspected 22 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in the country. “Checks on 22 787s have been completed and nothing alarming was found during the surveillance,” an official told Hindustan Times. The remaining aircraft are expected to be inspected by Monday.

Picture Credit: eastmojo.com

Before the crash, Air India had a fleet of 34 Boeing 787 airframes. While IndiGo also operates a 787-9 aircraft, it is reportedly under foreign registration. The crash has raised concerns about the overall safety of Boeing aircraft, especially following a series of global incidents involving the manufacturer.

A Boeing technical team and AAIB officials are now on site in Ahmedabad, working to determine the root cause of the crash. As of Monday, 87 victims have been identified via DNA testing, and 47 bodies have been returned to their families.

While inspections so far show no immediate threat across India’s Boeing fleet, the ongoing investigation will be crucial in addressing whether the manufacturer’s aircraft remain safe for Indian skies.