Post by : Rameen Ariff

New Delhi: The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), representing airline pilots, has called for all Boeing 787 planes operated in India to be grounded after reports of technical malfunctions on two Air India flights raised safety concerns.

The first incident involved flight AI-154 from Vienna to Delhi on October 9, which was diverted to Dubai due to multiple system alerts, including issues with the autopilot and flight control systems. The second incident occurred on October 4 with flight AI-117 during landing in Birmingham, where the aircraft’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed unexpectedly. Pilots alleged that these incidents highlighted “poor serviceability” by Air India, citing concerns over recently hired engineers replacing those from the government-owned maintenance body, AIESEL.

Air India, however, has strongly denied any electrical or system failures. A spokesperson clarified that the RAT deployment on AI-117 was not caused by a system fault or pilot error. Regarding AI-154, the airline said the flight was rerouted due to a technical issue, but the aircraft landed safely in Dubai. Passengers were informed about the delay, provided refreshments, and continued their journey to Delhi on the same aircraft without further incidents.

“At Air India, the safety of passengers and crew is our top priority,” the spokesperson emphasized.

The airline added that preliminary investigations showed all electrical and hydraulic parameters on AI-117 were normal. The un-commanded RAT deployment was consistent with similar past occurrences in other airlines, as reported by Boeing. Air India confirmed it had informed the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and submitted a preliminary report in accordance with safety regulations. The aircraft has since been cleared for service.

The FIP’s concerns also referenced the June 12 AI-171 crash, which killed 260 people, including passengers, crew, and residents on the ground. AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad due to thrust failure. In a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu, the pilots stressed that the safety of air travel is at risk if causes of Boeing 787 failures in India are not thoroughly investigated.

This dispute highlights growing tension between pilot groups and Air India management over aircraft maintenance and operational safety, particularly involving the country’s Boeing 787 fleet.

#Travel News