Overview

• Flight AI-171, an 11-year-old Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed on June 12 near Ahmedabad, killing more than 200 people in the first fatal accident involving the model.
• Preliminary findings point to a simultaneous loss of power in both engines, prompting investigators to examine maintenance records and potential mechanical failures.
• The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has opened a formal inquiry and the civil aviation minister has established a high-level committee to strengthen aviation safety protocols.
• Since its 2022 privatization by the Tata Group, Air India has accumulated fines for operational breaches, including pilot recency and duty-time violations.
• The disaster threatens the carrier’s financial recovery and fleet modernization strategy, which relies on orders for 570 new aircraft.