India orders inspection of all Boeing 787 aircraft after Air India crash

India's aviation regulator has ordered inspection of all Boeing 787 aircraft operated by local airlines following a fatal Air India crash earlier this week that claimed 270 lives, according to Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu.

Authorities are examining every potential cause behind the incident.

On Friday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directed Air India to carry out additional maintenance checks on its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft fitted with GEnx engines. 

These checks include specific takeoff performance evaluations, electronic engine control diagnostics, and fuel system inspections.

"We have also given the order to do the extended surveillance of the 787 planes. There are 34 in our Indian fleet,," Naidu said during a press briefing in New Delhi. "Eight have already been inspected and with immediate urgency, all of them are going to be done."

He did not clarify whether government personnel would be directly involved in the inspection process.

The tragedy occurred when a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to Gatwick Airport in the UK lost altitude shortly after takeoff on Thursday and crashed into nearby structures, erupting in flames. With 242 people aboard, the crash is now considered the deadliest air disaster globally in the past ten years.

Air India operates 33 of the 787 models, while competitor IndiGo has one, according to Flightradar24 data.

In a statement, Air India confirmed it is complying with the regulator’s one-time safety directives, noting that these inspections might result in longer turnaround times and delays, particularly on international routes.

Naidu added that investigators are analyzing various aspects of the crash, including possible issues with engine thrust, flap deployment, and the unusual fact that the landing gear remained extended during takeoff. These factors are being looked at as part of the broader investigation.