Air India has issued an alert for possible delays on its long-haul routes as mandatory safety checks on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet begin. The inspections, directed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), are part of an immediate safety protocol following the fatal crash of Flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad.
The airline has already completed checks on nine of its 33 Boeing 787 aircraft and aims to finish the remaining within the DGCA’s timeline. The inspections are being carried out as aircraft return to India and are a prerequisite before the jets are cleared for further operations.
The checks include a range of technical evaluations — from electronic engine control system tests to hydraulic and fuel system reviews. A more detailed power assurance check and flight control inspection are also scheduled over the next two weeks.
DGCA’s order follows concerns over “repetitive snags” on the Dreamliner fleet in recent weeks. The regulator has made it clear that no aircraft will return to service until all flagged maintenance actions are verified and closed.