Ahmedabad plane crash brings focus on the Boeing fleet that Indian airlines operate

Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash

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In one of India's worst airline tragedies in recent years, a London-bound Air India flight with 242 people on board, including the crew, crashed near the Ahmedabad airport on June 12 soon after take off. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft crashed on a medical hostel near a residential area, resulting in more casualties.

The civil aviation regulator DGCA informed that the airline issued a 'Mayday' call - a universal aviation emergency signal - moments before contact was lost with Air Traffic Control (ATC).

Share of Boeing Inc, the maker of the aircraft were sharply lower on June 12. Here's more details about the type of Boeing fleet that Indian airlines are in possession of:

Air India
In October 2012, Air India became the first airline to receive a delivery of a Dreamliner built at Boeing’s South Carolina plant. The Indian carrier currently operates a fleet of 787-8s, which it uses for long-haul international routes including to the UK, North America, and the Middle East.

Air India operates several Airbus and Boeing narrow-body and wide-body aircraft. B787-7, B787-9, B777-200LR and B777-300ER planes are also included in its Boeing fleet. A319, A320, A320neo, A321, A321neo and India’s first A350-900 are included in Air India’s fleet of Airbus planes.

SpiceJet
SpiceJet operates Boeing as well as Q-400s aircraft. It currently owns Boeing 737-700s, 737-800s and 737-900ERs with winglets, for short to medium-haul flights. Q400s meanwhile are designed only for short haul routes.

Akasa Air
The Mumbai-based Akasa Air currently has a fleet of 29 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed airline only began operations three years ago, and currently awaits several deliveries from Boeing.

Air India Express currently has a fleet of over 110 aircraft, including Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s.

IndiGoThe airline currently operates Airbus A320 CEO & NEO, the A321 NEO and the ATR 72-600 aircraft. The seating capacity on the A320 CEO fleet is 180, A-320 NEO fleet is 180 /186 the A321 fleet is 222/232 and ATR Fleet is 78. However, the longtime Airbus customer recently announced planes to induct more Boeing planes as well.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner model - the type of plane that crashed - has faced several setbacks since its inception. Earlier in 2024, Boeing engineer and whistleblower Sam Salehpour accused the company of cutting corners in the production of both the 777 and 787 Dreamliners. In interviews with The New York Times and CNN, Salehpour had alleged last year that improper assembly and rushed manufacturing practices could pose a catastrophic risk over time, especially as these jets age.