New Delhi:
The right engine of the Air India aircraft that crashed just 36 seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in June had undergone a complete overhaul in March 2025, while the left engine was inspected in April, according to Campbell Wilson, Managing Director and CEO of Air India.
In a communication sent Thursday to members of the airline’s elite Maharaja Club loyalty programme, Wilson stated that the London Gatwick-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner was “well-maintained,” with its last major inspection conducted in June 2023, and the next one scheduled for December 2025.
Wilson emphasized that the aircraft and both engines showed no signs of malfunction prior to the flight, and noted that the crew operating the flight—Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder—had a combined 13,400 hours of flying experience, reflecting their extensive qualifications and operational readiness.
This clarification from the airline’s top executive comes amid rising scrutiny and public concern over the safety standards of Air India’s fleet, which includes 128 aircraft, of which 33 were Boeing 787 Dreamliners before the crash. The number now stands at 32 following the June 12 tragedy, which has triggered a broader conversation around aircraft maintenance, regulatory compliance, and pilot training protocols within India’s aviation sector.
The leading theory points to either a dual engine failure or a complete electronic or hydraulic systems malfunction, supported by both aural and visual indications that the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) was deployed shortly before the crash.
Experts interviewed by British broadcaster BBC emphasized that a plane engine’s condition is not solely dependent on its age — particularly when it comes to the GEnx-1B engines used in the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
According to former aviation investigator Kishore Chinta, these advanced engines are managed by a system called Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC), which continuously monitors performance and alerts operators to any potential issues. This eliminates the need for a fixed maintenance schedule based on time or usage.
However, Chinta noted that certain engine components are still subject to routine replacement due to natural wear and tear, ensuring long-term reliability and performance.
Fleet Inspections and Operational Adjustments
In response to the tragic crash, Air India’s CEO Campbell Wilson informed customers that comprehensive safety inspections had been initiated across the airline’s entire Dreamliner fleet. As of now, 26 aircraft have successfully completed inspections and have been cleared to return to service.
As a precautionary measure, Air India is conducting enhanced pre-flight safety checks on all Boeing 787 aircraft. These extra safety protocols have temporarily led to a 15 percent reduction in wide-body aircraft deployment, a measure expected to remain in place until mid-July.
Wilson acknowledged that the extended time required to complete these checks, along with ongoing airspace restrictions over parts of West Asia, has resulted in a higher-than-normal number of flight cancellations, particularly on long-haul international routes.
Impact on Flight Operations
Since the June 12 crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed that 66 Air India Dreamliner flights have been cancelled, with 22 cancellations occurring the day after the incident, marking the single highest daily disruption.
Details of the Crash
The Ahmedabad–London Gatwick Dreamliner was carrying 272 people, including two pilots and 10 cabin crew, along with a full load of fuel, when it crashed just 36 seconds after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Tragically, 271 people on board lost their lives, with only one survivor — a British-Indian man who miraculously escaped with minor injuries.
The crash also claimed the lives of at least 33 people on the ground, as the aircraft failed to gain altitude and plummeted into the Meghani Nagar residential area, less than two kilometers from the airport.
A widely circulated video, captured by a teenage boy from the rooftop of his home, shows the aircraft descending rapidly, its jet engines audibly shrieking before impact, offering haunting visual and audio evidence of the final moments before the crash.
The footage and early data suggest that the aircraft encountered severe mechanical or systems failure, which is still under investigation by Indian aviation authorities and Boeing representatives.
Ongoing Investigation and Reassurance
While the cause of the disaster is yet to be officially confirmed, the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) — a backup system triggered during critical power or hydraulic failures — points to a potential dual engine failure or total electronic/hydraulic malfunction.
Air India has pledged full cooperation with the investigation, and both national and international aviation safety bodies are involved in analyzing flight data recorders and cockpit audio to determine what went wrong.
Meanwhile, Wilson assured customers and stakeholders that Air India is committed to the highest standards of safety, and that every step is being taken to ensure fleet reliability, passenger confidence, and regulatory compliance.
A medical college hostel bore the brunt of the devastating Air India Dreamliner crash on June 12, with disturbing visuals from the site showing the aircraft’s tail section lodged into the building’s upper floors. The impact caused significant structural damage and claimed multiple lives on the ground.
Among the passengers on the ill-fated flight was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was reportedly on board at the time of the incident.
Black Boxes Recovered, But Damaged
Both the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)—collectively referred to as the ‘black boxes’—have been recovered from the crash site. These critical devices are expected to provide key insights into the sequence of events that led to the crash.
However, preliminary assessments reveal that the black boxes sustained moderate damage, raising challenges for data retrieval. The information stored inside remains intact, but will require a specialized extraction process to be accessed.
At present, it is unclear whether the data extraction will take place in India or abroad. According to senior officials, if the devices are sent to the United States or another international facility, Indian aviation experts will accompany them to ensure proper handling and adherence to global safety protocols.
READ: [Air India ‘Black Box’ Damaged, Centre To Decide On Sending It Abroad]
Timeline of Flight AI-171: What Happened
Flight AI-171, a scheduled Air India Dreamliner service from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 PM on June 12, as confirmed by a Civil Aviation Ministry spokesperson.
Within seconds of take-off, the pilots reported a critical issue. A distress call was made to Ahmedabad Air Traffic Control (ATC), indicating a failure to achieve sufficient thrust—a crucial element required during take-off.
The final communication from Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was a chilling “Mayday! Mayday! Thrust not achieved…”—the international distress call signaling an emergency. Moments later, the aircraft went radio silent, and crashed into the Meghani Nagar neighborhood, striking multiple buildings, including the aforementioned college hostel.
READ: [“Pilot’s Last Message Was ‘Mayday’”: Ministry On Ahmedabad Air Crash]
Ongoing Investigation and International Collaboration
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are jointly handling the investigation. With the black boxes in custody, investigators are working with urgency to recover data that could clarify the exact cause of the crash, which early theories suggest may involve dual engine failure or a complete systems malfunction.
International aviation bodies, including Boeing and representatives from engine manufacturer GE, may also be brought in depending on the outcome of the data extraction process.
As of now, over 66 Dreamliner flights have been cancelled, and enhanced safety checks are being conducted on Air India’s remaining Boeing 787 fleet. The airline has assured the public that all measures are being taken to prevent further incidents.
