DGCA holds high-level review with Air India after AI 171 crash; 33 B787 aircraft under enhanced inspection

Following the tragic crash of Air India flight AI 171 on June 12, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) convened a high-level meeting with Air India CEO Campbell Wilson and senior executives from both Air India and Air India Express to review safety, operational discipline, and passenger service mechanisms across the airline.

The urgent meeting was called to assess the robustness of Air India’s operations and ensure continued compliance with safety and service regulations. Key concerns addressed included maintenance-related delays, airspace disruptions, and proactive safety checks on the Boeing 787 fleet.

DGCA flagged recent maintenance-related issues and urged the airline to improve coordination across engineering, operations, and ground handling units. It advised ensuring the availability of spares to prevent avoidable passenger delays and to maintain strict adherence to regulatory requirements.

Airspace restrictions, especially over Iranian territory, have triggered multiple flight diversions and cancellations. DGCA instructed operators to communicate such disruptions promptly to passengers and explore alternate routings to minimise operational impact.

Air India was reminded of its obligations under Civil Aviation Requirements Section 3, Series M, Parts IV and V, to notify passengers in advance about cancellations and delays. Emphasis was laid on better passenger facilitation and timely communication via all available channels.

In a positive finding, recent surveillance of Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet revealed no major safety concerns. As of 3 PM on June 17, 24 out of 33 B787-8/9 aircraft had completed DGCA-mandated enhanced inspections. Two additional aircraft were scheduled to complete checks the same day, with one more due the following day. Four aircraft currently under major maintenance will undergo inspection before re-entering service, while two others are grounded at Delhi and will be inspected once declared serviceable. 

Air India Flight Operations (June 12–17, 2025)

Date	Total Flights Operated	Total Flights Cancelled	B787 Flights Operated	B787 Flights Cancelled
12-Jun	90	6	50	5
13-Jun	80	22	41	11
14-Jun	86	12	47	12
15-Jun	76	16	41	14
16-Jun	75	11	39	11
17-Jun*	55	16	30	13

* Data for June 17 is as of 1800 hrs.

The DGCA also recommended implementing a real-time defect reporting system to enhance internal coordination and reduce the risk of operational disruptions.

In recent days, Air India has cancelled several wide-body services as part of its precautionary checks. On June 17 alone (till 6 PM), the airline cancelled 16 flights, including 13 operated by B787 aircraft. Affected routes include Delhi–Dubai (AI 915), Delhi–Paris (AI 143), Ahmedabad–London (AI 159), and Bengaluru–London (AI 133). Flight AI 315 from Hong Kong had to return mid-air due to a technical issue, and a San Francisco–Mumbai service faced a snag during a Kolkata stopover.

Air India clarified that not all cancellations were linked to mechanical issues. The Ahmedabad–London flight, for instance, was cancelled due to airspace constraints and preventive maintenance planning.

DGCA reiterated its commitment to ensuring passenger safety and regulatory compliance, stating that it will continue close oversight of all scheduled operators in the interest of public safety.