On 30 April, the American plane producer highlighted the success of the Dreamliner sequence in a press launch, noting that its 1,175 planes had carried 1 billion passengers in 14 years, a file that surpasses another wide-body industrial aeroplane in historical past.
“Flying over 1 billion passengers on this comparatively quick time is a testomony to how the airplane has delivered on its guarantees to rework air journey with operational versatility, effectivity and luxury,” stated Scott Stocker, Boeing 787 program vice-president and common supervisor.
Airways utilizing the Dreamliner sequence have praised the planes for his or her considerably improved gasoline effectivity. The 787 household is 25% extra fuel-efficient than the aeroplanes it replaces, thanks largely to new engines, the expanded use of light-weight composite supplies, extra environment friendly system purposes, and fashionable aerodynamics, Boeing stated in an announcement dated 30 April.
To make certain, Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes have skilled operational issues prior to now. These planes confronted vital battery points in 2013, resulting in a worldwide grounding of the fleet. These issues stemmed from lithium-ion batteries used within the plane’s auxiliary energy unit (APU), which had been susceptible to thermal runaway and fires. The problems in the end resulted within the grounding of the Dreamliner fleet, with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB) investigating the design and manufacturing of the batteries.
Additionally learn How the crash impacts Air India, insurers and Boeing
Air India had additionally grounded its planes and subsequently made the required adjustments earlier than flying them once more. The plane has had no points since then. Nonetheless, Thursday’s crash is the primary crash reported within the Boeing 787 Dreamliner sequence, based on the Aviation Security Community database. In April 2024, the FAA introduced that it was investigating claims made by a Boeing engineer who alleged that elements of the 787 Dreamliner’s fuselage had been improperly mounted collectively. Worryingly, the engineer had instructed the aviation regulator that the fuselage may break aside mid-flight. Boeing rejected the claims by the previous engineer.
Aviation advisor John M. Cox, the CEO of Security Working Techniques, instructed the Related Press that whereas the preliminary photos of Thursday’s crash had been poor, they appeared to point out the plane with its nostril up and never climbing, which is among the elements investigators would look at. “At this level, it is very, very, very early, we do not know a complete lot,” Cox instructed AP. “However the 787 has very intensive flight knowledge monitoring–the parameters on the flight knowledge recorder are within the thousands–so as soon as we get that recorder, they’re going to be capable to know fairly rapidly what occurred.”
Thursday’s crash comes after Boeing final month agreed to pay $1.1 billion in a cope with the US Division of Justice to keep away from prosecution over the 2 crashes that collectively killed 346 individuals. The 2 main crashes that resulted from faults in Boeing planes, particularly the 737 Max mannequin, occurred in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019. The Boeing 737 Max mannequin was grounded for nearly a 12 months earlier than being relaunched. For Boeing, the newest crash is unhealthy information coming only a week forward of the Paris Air Present, the place it may have booked recent orders. Its shares had been buying and selling almost 6% decrease in pre-market offers on Thursday.
Learn this Air India’s Boeing Dreamliner crashes minutes after takeoff
“With profound sorrow I affirm that Air India flight, AI 171 working Ahmedabad London Gatwick was concerned in a tragic accident at this time,” Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Tata Sons chairman, stated in a ready assertion. Chandrasekaran, who can be the chair of Air India, added: “At this second, our main focus is on supporting all of the affected individuals and their households. We’re doing all the things in our energy to help the emergency response groups on the web site and to supply all obligatory assist and care to these impacted.”
“We’re deeply saddened by the tragic accident involving Air India Flight 171 on its journey from Ahmedabad to London. This heart-wrenching incident has introduced immense grief to numerous households, and our ideas are with all those that have misplaced their family members at this time,” stated Noel Tata, chair of Tata Trusts, the philanthropic entities that management the Tata conglomerate. In an announcement reacting to the crash, Boeing stated: “We’re conscious of preliminary experiences and are working to collect extra info.”
“The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is involved with the NTSB (Nationwide Transportation Security Board) concerning Air India flight AI171, working from Ahmedabad (AMD) to London Gatwick (LGW), that was concerned in an accident in India on Thursday, June 12,” FAA stated in an announcement on Thursday. “When a global incident happens, that authorities leads the investigation. Within the occasion help is requested, the NTSB is the official U.S. consultant and the FAA supplies technical assist. We stand able to launch a staff instantly in coordination with the NTSB”. For now, there isn’t a certainty whether or not India’s civil aviation watchdog Directorate Common of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will floor the remainder of the Dreamliners plane.
And browse Will the Air India crash lead to the grounding of the Dreamliner series and disrupt travel?
“This can be a very profitable plane, that is in all probability the primary main challenge with the 787, it is not going to have an effect on the corporate’s prospects. The DGCA is not going to floor the remainder of the fleet, in the event that they do, it might be a inconsiderate act,” stated Captain Mohan Ranganathan, a former airline teacher pilot.
As of 14 April 2025, Air India’s fleet contains 198 plane. This consists of 34 Dreamliners, comprising 27 Boeing 787-8s and seven Boeing 787-9s. Boeing has a sturdy order ebook for the Dreamliner, together with 20 from Air India, the primary of which is due by the tip of this 12 months.
