&w=3840&q=100)
DGCA reviews Air India operations, says Boeing 787 surveillance did not find major safety concern
Aviation watchdog DGCA on Tuesday said surveillance of Air India's Boeing 787 fleet did not reveal any major safety concerns in the wake of the fatal plane crash in Ahmedabad last week read more
Aviation watchdog DGCA on Tuesday said surveillance of Air India's Boeing 787 fleet did not reveal any major safety concerns in the wake of the fatal plane crash in Ahmedabad last week.
Amid mounting safety concerns and the cancellation of at least 66 flights that were to be operated with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, DGCA officials held a detailed review meeting with top Air India and Air India Express executives.
At the review meeting, the DGCA flagged concerns regarding recent maintenance-related issues reported at Air India.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
On June 13, a day after the B787-8 crash that killed 241 people on board, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation ordered enhanced surveillance of Air India's Boeing 787 fleet, comprising 26 787-8 and seven 787-9.
'The recent surveillance conducted on Air India's Boeing 787 fleet did not reveal any major safety concerns. The aircraft and associated maintenance systems were found to be compliant with existing safety standards,' DGCA said in a statement.
As many as 66 flights that were to be operated with B787 aircraft were cancelled from June 12 to June 17. During this period, the airline operated 248 flights with B787.
To address the maintenance-related issues, DGCA has issued certain directions to the Tata Group-owned airlines.
'The airline was advised to strengthen internal coordination across engineering, operations, ground handling units and ensure availability of adequate spares to mitigate passenger delays resulting from such issues and strictly adhere to regulations,' the statement.
Air India and Air India Express operate over 1,000 flights daily.
The regulator has recommended the implementation of a more systematic and real-time defect reporting mechanism to ensure that operational and safety-critical departments receive timely updates. This is expected to enhance overall decision-making and reduce downstream disruptions.
The meeting was convened to review the operational robustness of the airlines and ensure continued compliance with safety and passenger service regulations.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Meanwhile, the Iranian airspace closure has disrupted flight operations by Indian carriers to European and Gulf countries.
'The impact of recent airspace closures, particularly over Iranian airspace, was reviewed. The closures have led to flight diversions, delays, and cancellations.
'The operators have been asked to ensure timely communication with passengers and crew and adopt alternate routing strategies to minimize disruptions,' the statement said.
The DGCA also said that passengers should be informed well in advance regarding delays and cancellations.
'Emphasis was placed on effective passenger facilitation and timely dissemination of information through all available channels,' it added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
MSP for Totapuri mango fails to ease crisis in Tirupati, Chittoor
Tirupati: The mango crisis has intensified in Tirupati and Chittoor districts as the procurement deadlock continues despite the state govt fixing a minimum support price (MSP) of 12 per kg for the "Totapuri" mango variety, predominantly cultivated in these two districts for pulp production. Although the govt issued orders on June 6 mandating pulp units to procure Totapuri mangoes at 8 per kg — with an additional 4 per kg as a direct subsidy to farmers — the situation remains grim as farmers struggle to sell their produce and heaps of mangoes lie unsold at local mandis across the two districts. Though the state govt directed the pulp unit owners to procure the mangoes at Rs.8 per kg, several farmers complained that the pulp unit owners were offering them half the price at 4-5 per kg only owing to a slump in the mangoes prices in the neighbouring of Karnataka following a bumper crop. Though the AP govt issued orders banning the import of mangoes from Karnataka, there was still no respite for the local farmers. On Tuesday, the district collectors of Tirupati and Chittoor huddled into on-field inspections and meetings with the representatives of the pulp units across the two districts to get the situation under control before the crisis further deepens. According to Tirupati collector S Venkateshwar, about 1.55 lakh MT of Totapuri variety mangoes were produced this year in an extent of 14,582 hectares in Tirupati district alone. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Modern Racking Systems That Improve Workflow Search7 Learn More Undo While 25,000 MT of mangoes have already been harvested, about 1.3 lakh MT of mangoes are yet to be harvested. There are a total of 8 pulp units in the district, which are collectively procuring 2000 MT of mangoes on an average every day. The scenario is even more bleak in Chittoor district, where 5 lakh MT of Totapuri mangoes were produced by the farmers in an extent of 98,000 acres this year. The 27 mango pulp units have been collectively processing only 7 MT of mangoes on an average every day. According to Chittoor district-incharge collector G Vidyadhari, once in every two years the mango season witnesses a bumper harvest. In 2023, the pulp units were left behind with 40 MT of mango pulp, which she noted was the main reason behind the reluctance within the pulp units to procure the fruits this season, which again has witnessed a bumper yield this year. Agriculture minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu visited Tirupati and Chittoor districts a couple of days ago and tried to reassure the farmers that the govt already set aside 168 cr for subsidies for the mango farmers. However, farmers are struck with fear of suffering huge loss despite a bumper yield this year.
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
G7 summit continues in Canadian Rockies amid Israel-Iran tensions
BANFF, Alberta: The recent G7 summit has convened for the second and final day in the picturesque Canadian Rockies amidst escalating tensions stemming from the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. As the world leaders gathered, Canada made significant efforts to steer clear of any potential confrontations, particularly with President Donald Trump, who abruptly left the summit on Monday night. Prime Minister Mark Carney says his summit priorities are enhancing peace and security, building critical mineral supply chains, and creating jobs. However, pressing issues such as U.S. tariffs along with conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine are dominating discussions. In a striking turn of events, just hours before the leaders' meeting, Israel and Iran exchanged fresh hostilities that inflicted heavy casualties. This alarming backdrop heightened the urgency for a unified response, which resulted in the issuing of a joint statement advocating for de-escalation in Iran. A statement President Trump agreed to sign on to prior to his departure. "We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East," the statement issued Monday night said. "In this context, we affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel." "We also affirm the importance of the protection of civilians," the G7 leaders said. "Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror. We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon." "We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza," the G7 statement said. "We will remain vigilant to the implications for international energy markets and stand ready to coordinate, including with like-minded partners, to safeguard market stability." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz articulated that his key objectives include preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, supporting Israel's right to self-defense, and fostering an environment conducive to diplomatic solutions. He stated at the start of the summkit, "This issue will be very high on the agenda of the G7 summit." The summit is taking place in Kananaskis, a stunning resort located approximately 90 kilometers west of Calgary. During Canada's last summit in 2018, tensions with Trump led to his abrupt departure on that occasion too, and subsequent public disparagement of then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This history adds pressure on the current summit to proceed without further significant interruptions. International affairs scholar Roland Paris speculated, before the start of the conference "This will be a successful meeting if Donald Trump doesn't have an eruption that disrupts the entire gathering. Anything above and beyond that is gravy." As Trump arrived in Canada, Prime Minister Carney faced the challenge of negotiating sensitive topics, including U.S. import tariffs on steel and aluminum. Carney has warned of potential retaliatory actions if these tariffs are not lifted. Josh Lipsky from the Atlantic Council highlighted the best possible outcome as avoiding significant conflicts as the leaders engaged in dialogue. Amidst these discussions, Canada opted for a more streamlined communication strategy, opting out of a traditional comprehensive joint communique. Instead, chair summaries will be used to prevent diplomatic mishaps and maintain engagement with the U.S. Ottawa's focus will be on collective actions among the G7 nations—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Veteran diplomat and Senator Peter Boehm indicated that this summit might extend longer than usual to facilitate more extensive bilateral talks, particularly with President Trump. Various leaders from nations such as Ukraine, Mexico, India, Australia, South Africa, South Korea, and Brazil are participateing each eager to discuss their unique concerns directly with Trump. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was particularly keen on persuading Trump to reconsider the trade tariffs that threaten Japan's automotive industry following recent high-level trade discussions in Washington. A senior U.S. official expressed that topics including international security, energy security, and issues surrounding critical minerals would be key elements of the discussions. Given the challenges faced by other world leaders in their interactions with the Trump administration, the G7 summit represented a significant opportunity for coalition-building, particularly regarding Ukraine. Canada has consistently been a strong ally of Ukraine. This pivotal gathering comes at a time when the necessity for cohesive strategies among global allies is more crucial than ever, with the G7 summit serving as a litmus test for the continuity of U.S. engagement in multilateral settings.
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
83 Air India wide-body flights cancelled between June 12 to 17: DGCA
New Delhi [India], June 17 (ANI): A total of 83 flights in Air India's wide-body operations were cancelled, out of which 66 were Boeing 787 flights between June 12 and 17, said Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday. DGCA held a highlevel meeting with senior officials of Air India Ltd. and Air India Express, who are currently operating over 1,000 flights daily across domestic and international sectors. 'Between June 12 and June 17, 2025 (till 1800 hrs), a total of 83 flights in Air India's wide-body operations were cancelled, out of which 66 were Boeing 787 flights,' DGCA said in a press release. 'A total of seven key focus areas were discussed during the session, centred on maintaining regulatory compliance and enhancing operational reliability,' the release added. The regulatory body also reviewed the impact of recent airspace closures, particularly over Iranian airspace. The closures have led to flight diversions, delays, and cancellations. 'The operators have been asked to ensure timely communication with passengers and crew and adopt alternate routing strategies to minimise disruptions,' the release read. The DGCA apprised the operators regarding their obligation under the relevant Civil Aviation Requirements to inform passengers regarding delays and cancellations 'well in advance'. In the meeting, emphasis was placed on effective passenger facilitation and timely dissemination of information through all available channel. Moreover, the surveillance conducted on Air India's Boeing 787 fleet did not reveal any major safety concerns. 'The aircraft and associated maintenance systems were found to be compliant with existing safety standards,' DGCA said. The DGCA also directed the operators to apply the 'Enhances Safety Inspection' to an entire fleet of Air India Boeing 787, which comprises 33 aircraft. 'Of these, 4 aircraft are currently undergoing major checks at various MRO facilities. As of 1500 hrs on June 17, 2025, a total of 24 aircraft have successfully completed the required check. An additional 2 aircraft are planned for completion today, with 1 more scheduled for tomorrow. The remaining 6 aircraft include 2 aircraft, which are presently AOG at Delhi. The checks on these two will be carried out post-declaration of serviceability and prior to their return to service. The remaining 4 aircraft currently under MRO will undergo the mandated check prior to their release from the respective maintenance hangars,' the release read. (ANI)
