Air India plane crash: No red flags or maintenance issue — N Chandrasekaran says ‘Dreamliners have been operating…'
Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran on Wednesday said there were no red flags with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft before the tragic Air India plane crash that claimed over 270 lives .
Chandrasekaran's remarks comes almost a week after the tragic Air India plane crash that killed 241 out of the 242 passengers and cabin crew on board, as well as residents of the building that the aircraft crashed into.
'There were no red flags or maintenance issues (with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft),' he was quoted as saying during an interview with Times Now.
Boeing Dreamliners have been operating for a long time now, he added.
'Dreamliners have been operating for a long time,' Chandrasekaran said, adding, 'Safety concerns have never been raised.'
Air India was taken over by the Tata Group in 2022 after the Centre put the company up for bid.
Chandrasekaran in the interview further revealed that a preliminary report of the June 12 Air India plane crash is expected in 30 days.
The Tata Sons Chairman said he has asked aircraft maker Boeing and engine manufacturer GE Aerospace to tell the company if there are any issues with any aircraft made by them.
'We have asked Boeing and GE (Aerospace) to tell us if there are any issues with any aircraft,' Chandrasekaran said.
The Air India Chairman 'apologised' for the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last week that claimed more than 270 lives.
'It is an extremely difficult situation where I have no words to express to console any of the families of those who died,' he said in the interview.
Chandrasekaran stressed that the Tata Group will do everything to support the families of victims.
'I deeply regret that this accident happened in a Tata-run airline. And I feel very sorry. All we can do is to be with the families at this time, grieve with them and we will do everything to support them at this hour and beyond,' he was quoted as saying.
(This is a developing story. Check back for updates)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Plane Crashes, Road Mishaps, Bridge Collapses: India Needs National Plan To Aid Accident Victims' Kin
Last Updated: The plan should offer financial support proportional to the family's annual income, ideally around 10 times that amount, ranging from Rs 10-50 lakh A recent series of accidents has highlighted the challenges faced by the families of victims and the importance of providing prompt financial support to help them recover. Although the Tata group announced Rs 1.25 crore for each family affected by the Ahmedabad plane crash, other victims receive considerably less, such as Rs 5 lakh for families of the Uttarakhand helicopter crash victims and the Pune bridge disaster victims. The fate of road accident victims' families often depends on whether the accident makes national news, which may result in some relief being announced by state CMs or from the PM relief fund. However, this aid is usually insufficient for long-term support. Families of unreported accidents struggle daily with both emotional loss and financial hardship. There is an urgent need for a national response plan for all accident victims, covering road accidents, air accidents, lightning, floods, landslides, and bridge collapses. This plan should activate automatically upon the reporting of any fatal accident, without the need for political declarations. The plan should offer financial support proportional to the family's annual income, ideally around 10 times that amount, ranging from Rs 10-50 lakh. An immediate payment of Rs 2-3 lakh should cover last rites, with the remainder provided within 2-3 months. The total sum could be paid in instalments to prevent misappropriation. Injured victims should receive funds for treatment. Permanent disability should result in proportional compensation. The recent central government scheme offering Rs 1.5 lakh in cashless treatment is a good start but inadequate for severe injuries. While many accident victims might be covered under insurance, this is not always sufficient. Commercial airline crash compensation follows the Montreal Convention of 1999 but can take years to be processed. Interim compensation, like that announced by Tata Group, helps families survive until the actual compensation is received. Helicopter crash victims, like those in Uttarakhand, often face significant challenges in securing compensation due to financial instability of the operators and potential missed insurance payments. For road accident victims, the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunals often take years to settle, with decisions frequently challenged in higher courts, leaving families in prolonged distress. Hit-and-run victims have an even tougher situation, with no clear party from which to claim insurance, forcing families to seek help from various government offices. Most road accident victims are working-age individuals, leaving behind dependents who struggle without immediate financial aid. Children often have to abandon their education, and families fall into poverty. When multiple family members are injured or killed, the financial burden is even greater. Children orphaned by accidents may end up with relatives who may not have their best interests at heart, sometimes even losing their rightful property. A World Bank report from 2021 highlights that low-income households in poorer states suffer disproportionately from road crashes, with over 75% reporting income declines and resorting to high-interest loans, trapping them in poverty. Timely compensation can prevent this cycle. Assured, timely financial assistance from the government can help families recover, live with dignity, and ensure children's futures are not compromised. Advertisement To ensure necessary support, the government could release Rs 5 lakh immediately following an accidental death in public spaces or due to a disaster. The remaining amount can be provided within a few months after assessing the family's needs. The funds could be distributed as an annuity to ensure financial stability. The responsible party, whether an insurance firm or a contractor, can be determined later through legal processes. Funding this initiative could involve collaborating with public sector life insurance companies to cover all 140 crore Indians. The premium could be funded through pooling third-party premiums, a nominal cess on fuel sales, and a small income tax surcharge. The rest would come from budgetary allocations. top videos View All The scheme should work alongside existing insurance plans, deducting any amounts already awarded by tribunals like the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunals. In 2023, India recorded 1.72 lakh road accident deaths. Including deaths from other causes like floods, landslides, and fires, the total would be around 2 lakh per year. With an average payout of Rs 20 lakh per death, the total funding required would be Rs 40,000 crore. This amount would reduce the need for separate ex-gratia payments by state or central governments. Additionally, the financial pressure would motivate the government to enforce better laws and regulations to reduce accidents. tags : accident Compensation insurance plane crash Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 18, 2025, 23:24 IST News opinion Plane Crashes, Road Mishaps, Bridge Collapses: India Needs National Plan To Aid Accident Victims' Kin
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
Air India cuts 15% international wide-body flights after Ahmedabad crash
Air India on Tuesday said it will reduce its international services operated by wide-body aircraft by 15 per cent until at least mid-July, as the airline grapples with a combination of enhanced safety inspections and operational disruptions following last week's fatal crash of a Boeing 787 aircraft. The move is aimed at stabilising operations and improving efficiency, Air India said in a late-night statement. 'Given the compounding circumstances that Air India is facing… the cuts will be implemented between now and 20 June and will continue thereafter until at least mid-July,' the airline said. 'This effectively adds to our reserve aircraft availability to take care of any unplanned disruptions,' it noted. A revised international flight schedule will take effect from 20 June. Of the 33 Boeing 787 aircraft in Air India's fleet, 26 have completed DGCA-mandated inspections and been cleared to return to service. The remaining aircraft are expected to be cleared in the coming days. As an added precaution, the airline said it will also begin enhanced safety checks on its Boeing 777 fleet. Over the past six days, Air India has cancelled a total of 83 international flights. In addition to the safety inspections, the airline cited night curfews over parts of Europe and East Asia, as well as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, as contributing to the disruptions. Describing the flight cuts as 'a painful measure', the airline said the decision was necessary in the wake of a 'devastating event' and to avoid last-minute inconvenience to passengers. Affected travellers will be offered free rescheduling or full refunds. 'With the continued support of our passengers, the regulatory authorities, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and India at large, we will come out stronger through this tragic incident,' Air India said. 'Air India remains in mourning on the tragic loss… our hearts are with the families, loved ones, and communities affected,' the airline added, noting that it is working with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Gujarat government to assist the victims' families, including arrangements for travel and repatriation of mortal remains.
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
Air India Slashes Flights As Grief, Safety Demands Collide After Ahmedabad Crash
New Delhi: Air India has begun trimming its international flight operations in the wake of the recent tragedy that still grips the country. Reeling from the devastating crash of Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad that claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew, the airline is making sweeping operational adjustments while mourning those lost. In a statement, the airliner said, 'Our hearts are with the families, loved ones and communities affected by the accident.' As families continue to grieve and identify their loved ones, the airline described the victims and their kin as members of its extended family. Support teams, including Tata Group volunteers, remain stationed in Ahmedabad to assist relatives at hospitals and help with transport arrangements for the deceased. 'We pray for the departed souls and convey our deepest condolences to the families,' the company said. While the nation mourns, the airline is simultaneously navigating a safety overhaul. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a full 'Enhanced Safety Inspection' of Air India's Boeing 787 fleet. Of the 33 widebody aircraft in this category, 26 have cleared inspection, with the rest undergoing checks. Air India also confirmed that its Boeing 777 aircraft will now face similar scrutiny as part of a wider risk-control push. 'The remaining inspections are expected to be finalised in the coming days, providing reassurance about the safety measures and procedures followed by the airline,' the statement added. Operational Cutbacks Begin With engineering teams focused on safety inspections and flight crews operating under strict guidelines, the strain on the airline's resources has grown acute. Add to that night-time airspace restrictions over several countries due to Middle East tensions and the domino effect becomes clearer. Over the past six days, these combined pressures have led to 83 flight cancellations. Now, Air India has taken the decision to proactively reduce international operations on widebody aircraft by 15%. This step, in place from now until at least mid-July, is being positioned as a stabilising measure – one that will allow the airline to build in more reserve capacity and protect the rest of its operations from last-minute disruptions. Refunds Offered Affected passengers will be contacted in advance and given options to rebook at no additional charge or to receive a full refund. The revised schedule, starting June 20, will be announced soon. Air India issued an apology, saying it regrets the inconvenience but is acting in the interest of operational reliability and safety.
