Ahmedabad plane crash: DGCA orders enhanced safety inspection of Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation directed Air India to carry out additional maintenance actions on Boeing aircraft in the aftermath of the tragic AI flight 717 crash, which killed 241 of the 242 onboard on Thursday.

In a letter to Air India, the DGCA on Friday listed out the checks the airliner will have to carry out on all of its Boeing 787-8/9 fleet, starting 15 June 2025.

AIR INDIA AHMEDABAD PLANE CRASH LIVE UPDATES 

The one time checks before departure of flights from India include inspection of fuel parametre monitoring and associated system checks, inspection of cabin air compressor and associated systems, electronic engine control-system test, engine fuel driven actuator-operational test and oil system check, serviceability check of the hydraulic system, and review of the take-off parametres, the aviation watchdog's letter said.

As reported by PTI, Air India's fleet includes 26 Boeing 787-8s and 7 Boeing 787-9s owned by the Tata Group. These actions will be carried out in coordination with the DGCA regional offices concerned and on planes equipped with Genx engines.

Air India's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, operating a flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed soon after take-off on Thursday afternoon. Out of the 242 people who were on board the plane, only one person survived.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs a meeting

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday held a meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and obtained detailed information regarding the entire incident.

In the meeting, the Union Home Minister reviewed the rescue and relief operations and issued necessary instructions to the concerned officials. Union Minister CR Patil, Union Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, and Union Minister of State (MoS) Muralidhar Mohol also attended, an ANI report said.

During the meeting, the Civil Aviation Department, DGCA, Health Department, Police Administration, and the Relief Commissioner provided the Union Home Minister with complete information regarding the entire sequence of events of the flight accident, rescue and relief operations, and health-related services.

Calling the incident unfortunate and deeply saddening, Shah directed that the government provide all necessary assistance to the affected families. He stated that the injured should receive immediate medical attention and assured that the government would fully support every stage, from DNA sample collection for the deceased and their families to identification and the safe return of mortal remains to their respective homes.

EAM Jaishankar in touch with UK, Portugal, Canada foreign ministers

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that he is in touch with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand regarding the Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday. 

According to Air India, the passengers comprised 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals.

World leaders, including UK PM Keir Starmer, US President Donald Trump, Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba, Portuguese PM Luis Montenegro, and Canadian PM Mark Carney, also expressed their condolences on the incident.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting with the officials at the airport in Ahmedabad. He also visited the Air India plane crash site in Ahmedabad and reviewed the ground situation.

After the incident, PM Modi also spoke to Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu and Home Minister Amit Shah and took stock of the crash incident.

(With inputs from agencies)