The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an order to extend the scrutiny of Boeing Dreamliner 787 series aircraft in the Indian fleet, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said on Saturday.
Naidu further stated that around eight Boeing 787 aircraft have already been scrutinised and inspected with immediate urgency.
Addressing a press conference, the Union Minister said, “We have very strict safety standards in the country. When the incident happened, we felt there was a need to conduct extended surveillance of the Boeing 787 series. The DGCA has issued an order for extended surveillance of these planes. There are 34 Boeing 787 aircraft in the Indian fleet today. I believe eight have already been inspected, and the rest will be done with immediate urgency.”
“Furthermore, as the investigation progresses and the report comes in, we will take all necessary steps. Without any hesitation, we are committed to implementing every measure required to enhance safety,” he added.
The Minister also informed that Air India has been instructed to assist the families of the passengers in every possible way. He said the bodies are being handed over to the respective families after DNA confirmation and expressed hope that the process would be completed soon.
“It is very heart-wrenching to hear the stories of those who lost their lives. We have instructed Air India to assist the families in every way possible. DNA testing is underway to identify the bodies, which are being handed over to the families upon confirmation. The government of Gujarat is coordinating this process. While we aim to complete it as soon as possible, we must follow all necessary documentation and procedural protocols. We are ensuring there are no lapses in the process,” he said.
On June 12, Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad International Airport. Of the 242 people on board, only one survived.
Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said the crash, which left 241 people dead, has shaken the entire nation.
“The last two days have been very difficult, especially for the ministry and everyone involved. The incident in Ahmedabad has shaken the entire nation. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. I personally lost my father in a road accident, so to some extent, I understand the pain and anguish the families are going through,” he said.
“It was a moment of shock when we first heard the news. Despite the disbelief, I personally rushed to the site to oversee the response and determine what support was needed. By the time we arrived, the Gujarat government was already on the ground conducting rescue operations,” he added.
The Minister highlighted that the recovery of the black box from the crash site was crucial to the investigation.
“The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which was established specifically to investigate aircraft incidents and accidents, was immediately mobilised. A key development from the ongoing technical investigation is the recovery of the black box from the site around 5 p.m. yesterday. The AAIB team believes decoding the black box will provide in-depth insight into what occurred during the crash or just moments before. We are eagerly awaiting the results of the AAIB’s full investigation,” he said.
The Central government has already constituted a high-level multidisciplinary committee to examine the causes leading to the crash of Flight AI-171.
Earlier in the day, officials from the AAIB arrived in Ahmedabad, where the London-bound Air India flight had crashed. The AAIB, under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is responsible for investigating aircraft accidents in India and has launched a formal investigation into the incident.
ANI