In brief
The crash of Air India's AI171 raises questions about aircraft safety as investigations reveal mixed engine health reports.
The chairman of Air India, N Chandrasekaran, stated that the engines on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed last week had differing health statuses. One engine was newly installed in March 2025, while the other was due for servicing in December 2025. Tragically, the AI171 flight to London crashed shortly after leaving Ahmedabad, claiming at least 270 lives.In an interview, Mr. Chandrasekaran reassured that both engines had pristine maintenance records. He emphasized the importance of waiting for the black box data to reveal the full story, cautioning against premature conclusions. Experts like Kishore Chinta noted that the age of an engine doesn't always reflect its health, especially with the advanced Genx-1B engines, which rely on sophisticated monitoring systems for maintenance decisions.In light of the incident, Air India announced a 15% reduction in international operations for wide-body aircraft as safety checks are intensified. The airline aims to ensure thorough inspections, having already cleared 26 out of 33 Boeing 787s. The aviation regulator mandated heightened safety measures post-crash, which comes at a challenging time for Air India amid corporate transformations.As the investigation continues, speculation remains rampant about the crash and its implications for Air India's future, especially as it shifts from state to private ownership under Tata Sons, a respected conglomerate in India.
