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Aircraft accidents

Air India Defends Fleet Maintenance Amid Safety Concerns After Crash

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Air India's CEO, Campbell Wilson, has defended the airline's fleet maintenance practices after a London-bound flight crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12, resulting in the loss of all but one passenger on board. Wilson stated that the engines in the aircraft "showed no issues" before take-off, and that they were "regularly monitored" with the last major check in June 2023 and the next scheduled for December 2025. The investigation into the crash, which has suggested a possible double engine failure, is ongoing and can typically last a year or more.

Key Takeaways:

  • The pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, was a highly experienced pilot with over 10,000 hours of flying widebody aircraft, and First Officer Clive Kunder had over 3,400 hours of flying experience.
  • The aircraft's engines showed no issues before take-off, according to Air India's CEO, Campbell Wilson.
  • The plane was well-maintained, with its last major check in June 2023 and the next scheduled for December 2025.
  • The investigation into the crash has suggested a possible double engine failure, but the exact cause is still unknown.
  • Air India has been conducting thorough safety inspections on 33 Boeing 787 aircraft as directed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
  • The airline's Boeing 787 fleet and maintenance processes have been cleared for service after inspections on 26 aircraft, with the remaining aircraft currently in planned maintenance.

Statistics:

  • 33 Boeing 787 aircraft inspected by Air India as directed by the DGCA (Source: Air India statement)
  • 26 aircraft cleared for service after inspections (Source: Air India statement)
  • 7 aircraft remaining in planned maintenance (Source: Air India statement)
  • The investigation into the crash is expected to last a year or more, due to various factors contributing to the crash (Source: Air India CEO Campbell Wilson)
  • The last major check of the aircraft was in June 2023, with the next scheduled for December 2025 (Source: Air India statement)

Sources:

  • "Air India says its plane was well-maintained before crash in India" by WSJ (cited by investigators)
  • "Air India statement on the crash of Flight 819" by Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India (cited directly from the statement)
  • "DGCA launches probe into Air India crash" by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (cited by Air India statement)

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