MC EXPLAINER International aviation agencies to decide on Boeing 787 airworthiness after Ahmedabad crash probe

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Acting Federal Aviation Administration head Chris Rocheleau had on June 12 said that the FAA was reviewing information with Boeing and GE as part of the investigation into the crash.

Duffy also emphasised that the US government “will not hesitate to implement any safety recommendations that may arise. We will follow the facts and put safety first.”

Rocheleau had added, "As we proceed down this road with the investigation itself, if there's any information that becomes available to us regarding any risk, we will mitigate those risks."

Duffy said the FAA is "prepared to send additional resources to get the data we need to ensure the safety of the flying public."

What are investigators looking for?

Investigators will examine the wreckage of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and analyse the flight data and cockpit voice recorders to determine what went wrong. According to regulations from the UN aviation body ICAO, a preliminary report is expected within 30 days, while a final report should be completed within a year.

Many aviation experts have pointed out that this incident is remarkably unusual. Experts point out that possible causes under scrutiny include engine failure due to bird strikes or fuel contamination, improper flap extension, maintenance errors, or incorrect crew actions that might have cut fuel supply to both engines.

The ongoing investigation will involve an exhaustive examination of physical evidence from the wreckage against recorded flight performance data to construct a comprehensive overview of the events leading up to the crash.

Initial insights may emerge from the condition of the engines, with former investigations officers pointing out that engine damage patterns can reveal whether they were operating at the time of impact, which would shift the investigative focus to the cockpit if they were not.

Recent preliminary investigations suggest that both engines of the aircraft may have lost power, an occurrence pilots classify as extremely rare. Experts said that the plane maintained a steady descent without manoeuvring, which is atypical for a scenario involving a single-engine failure. Many experts have also dismissed bird strikes as a potential cause, citing the large diameter of the 787's engines.

The Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders on the Boeing 787 will provide vital information, recording extensive flight data and cockpit audio. This includes pilot communications and essential metrics like gear and flap positions, engine performance, and fuel flow, all crucial for piecing together the moments leading to the tragedy.

Why are foreign agencies investigating an aviation incident in India?

Foreign agencies are investigating the AI 171 aviation incident in India due to international protocols established in the Chicago Convention. These protocols allow countries connected to the aircraft to join the investigation, not to assign blame, but to enhance aviation safety by identifying causes and preventing future accidents.

Since the crash occurred on Indian territory, the investigation is led by the AAIB. Air India, the airline operating the aircraft, designates India as the ‘State of Operator’ and ‘State of Registry,’ as the Boeing aircraft displays Indian registration markings beginning with VT.

The US is the ‘State of Design’ and ‘State of Manufacture,’ as Boeing manufactured the aircraft and General Electric provided the engines. Consequently, US agencies, including the NTSB and the FAA, are involved in the investigation. Boeing may also send experts alongside the NTSB team.

Additionally, UK representatives are participating because 53 British nationals onboard perished. All involved parties have the right to access the crash site, inspect evidence, submit technical information, and receive the final report.

Safety history of Boeing 787 Dreamliner

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is one of the industry’s most modern and celebrated jets but has seen numerous complaints, concerns, and whistleblower reports over its safety.

While the Boeing 787 planes have had some quality issues, including a report last year by an engineer who claimed parts of the fuselage were not put together correctly, the aircraft with General Electric’s GEnx engines has flown millions of hours without a fatal crash.

Boeing also defended the integrity of the Dreamliner saying, "For the in-service fleet, based on comprehensive analysis no safety issues have been identified related to composite gap management and our engineers are completing exhaustive analysis to determine any long-term inspection and maintenance required, with oversight from the FAA."

The safety of the Boeing 787 is enhanced by the use of fly-by-wire technology, which magnifies flight controls with electrical signals managed by computers instead of relying solely on a traditional mechanical system. This design incorporates triple redundancy, ensuring duplication of critical components to significantly improve reliability and safety.

While the exact reasons for the Air India crash are yet to be found out, the crash also highlights that even next-generation aircraft are not immune to failure when systemic cracks in maintenance, pilot training, regulatory oversight and operational pressure are left unchecked.

With over 200 lives lost in minutes, the incident is forcing the aviation world to confront a hard truth: the danger no longer lies in outdated planes alone but in the widening gap between aviation’s rapid growth and its ability to safely sustain it.

Which airlines will be most hit if the Boeing 787 aircraft are grounded?

If the FAA grounds the Dreamliner, about 1,120 Boeing planes would be grounded. United Airlines and American Airlines would be hit hardest, as they operate 141 planes together.

The duration of grounding depends on the fault and its severity. The Boeing 737 Max was grounded for 20 months after two deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019. To lift the grounding, the FAA required Boeing to fix the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) system and properly train pilots. This situation cost Boeing over $80 billion in cancelled orders, legal fees, fines, and compensation for victims.

Last year, when the FAA had issued a directive requiring inspections of 895 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, it impacted an estimated 64,000 flights worldwide. Major airlines such as Nippon Airways, Qatar Airways, American Airlines, United Airlines and Air Europa, among others, faced significant challenges in August and September 2024.

In 2024, the FAA had ordered a mandatory inspection in response to an incident in March 2024 involving a sudden mid-air plunge of a LATAM Airlines Boeing 787-9, which resulted in injuries to more than 50 passengers.

The FAA had ordered that inspections and corrective actions be performed for potentially loose or non-functional rocker switch caps or switch cover assemblies on the back of the captain’s and first officer’s seats on certain Boeing 787-8, -9 and –10 airplanes currently operating worldwide.