NATIONAL: Air India Ignored DGCA on AI171 Technical Issues?
Repeated Technical Failures
Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, encountered significant technical issues twice in 2024, on June 6 and in December, grounding the aircraft temporarily. Despite these incidents, the same plane crashed on June 12, 2025, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, raising serious safety concerns.
DGCA’s Unheeded Warnings
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show-cause notice to Air India on June 6, 2024, citing faulty equipment, including defective oxygen cylinders, and directed the airline to ground the aircraft. Air India allegedly disregarded these instructions, continuing to operate Flight AI171.
Third Incident and Catastrophic Outcome
On June 12, 2025, the same aircraft, operating as AI171, crashed into B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad’s Meghaninagar area, killing over 200 individuals. The DGCA confirmed that a technical snag, potentially linked to prior issues, contributed to the disaster.
Air India’s Accountability Questioned
- Posts on X indicate that two Air India captains had raised concerns about the aircraft’s oxygen cylinders, which were ignored.
- The airline’s decision to operate the flight despite DGCA warnings has sparked public and regulatory scrutiny.
- The DGCA plans to summon Air India CEO Campbell Wilson to address these lapses.
Investigation and Safety Implications
The DGCA has launched a probe to recover flight data and cockpit voice recorders to determine the crash’s cause, with preliminary reports suggesting a technical failure. This incident has intensified calls for stricter oversight of Air India’s maintenance protocols.