Air India Executives Confirm No Pre-Flight Technical Faults in AI-171 Crash
Following the tragic incident involving Air India Flight AI-171, airline executives have stated that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed had no technical or maintenance issues before it departed. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson and Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran confirmed that all recent inspections had cleared the aircraft and engine systems.
Wilson emphasized that the aircraft was in excellent condition, having undergone its last major inspection in June 2023, with the next one scheduled for December 2025. "Both the aircraft and engines were regularly monitored and showed no issues before the flight," he affirmed. Additionally, he disclosed that enhanced safety checks across Air India's Boeing 787 fleet have resulted in 26 out of 33 Dreamliners being cleared to resume operations.
Chandrasekaran mentioned that the right engine of the aircraft was newly installed in March 2025, while the left engine received servicing in 2023. He stated, "There were no red flags or safety concerns. Dreamliners have maintained a strong safety record globally."
The airline executives also vouched for the crew's proficiency. The flight was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, an experienced senior pilot and trainer with over 10,000 hours on widebody aircraft, alongside First Officer Clive Kunder, who had more than 3,400 hours of flight experience.
The disaster, which occurred just seconds after the plane took off from Ahmedabad on June 12, resulted in the loss of 241 passengers and 34 people on the ground. In response, Air India has temporarily reduced its international widebody operations by 15% to focus on comprehensive safety inspections across the fleet.
Wilson and Chandrasekaran cautioned against reaching premature conclusions about the crash's cause, stressing that thorough investigations are underway. Chandrasekaran highlighted the importance of black box data in unraveling the incident, with initial reports from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation expected within a month.
Air India extended its heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and reiterated its dedication to maintaining the highest standards of passenger safety.
