India regulator says no ‘major safety concerns' on Air India's Boeing 787 fleet
Some 24 of Air India's 33 Boeing 787 aircraft had completed an 'enhanced safety inspection'. - AP
NEW DELHI: India's aviation safety watchdog said on Tuesday (June 17) surveillance conducted on Air India's Boeing 787 fleet did not reveal any major safety concerns, days after one of its jets crashed, killing at least 271 people.
'The aircraft and associated maintenance systems were found to be compliant with existing safety standards,' the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London with 242 people on board crashed seconds after take-off in Ahmedabad on June 12, hitting nearby buildings. All but one passenger on board were killed, along with about 30 people on the ground.
The DGCA also said 24 of Air India's 33 Boeing 787 aircraft had completed an 'enhanced safety inspection' it had ordered the airline to carry out.
The regulator, in a meeting with senior officials of Air India, raised concerns about recent maintenance-related issues reported by the airline.
It advised the carrier to 'strictly adhere to regulations', strengthen coordination across its businesses and ensure availability of adequate spares to mitigate passenger delays, it added.
The DGCA had met senior officials of Air India and Air India Express to review their operations amid increasing flight volumes. - Reuters
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