Tata Group needs to fine-tune key aspects of Air India's operations: Praful Patel

Hindustan Times

14 hours ago

Mumbai: Former civil aviation minister Praful Patel has called on the Tata Group to fine-tune key aspects of Air India's operations, a day after the airline's Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with 242 people onboard crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad. At least 265 people have been confirmed dead as of Friday, including students at a medical college's hostel and others in a residential area near the Ahmedabad airport where the plane went down.
'After three-and-a-half years of the takeover of Air India by the Tatas, the management needs to fine-tune various aspects of running a world-class airline, including maintenance,' Patel told reporters at the Nationalist Congress Party's office in Mumbai on Friday. The 68-year-old was the civil aviation minister in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government when Boeing introduced the Dreamliners in 2011.
Asked about India's proficiency in maintaining and repairing aircraft, Patel expressed concern over the 'under-utilisation' of domestic facilities. Before the Tata takeover in 2022, most of Air India's planes were maintained by Air India Engineering Services Limited, the country's largest aircraft maintenance company, which is government-owned. However, many planes are now being managed by other agencies, he said.
'We have a world-class set-up, but it is surprising why some planes of Air India are sent outside the country for maintenance. Air India Engineering Services Limited has always maintained Air India for a long time, and their services should be utilised. It is surprising that aircraft are sent outside. Boeing's maintenance and repair facility at Nagpur has a good track record. However, the facility has been underutilised,' he added.
Terming the accident a temporary setback, Patel said India's aviation sector remains largely well-managed. 'We have potential for growth and a need for more aircraft, looking at the size of our country. Any accident has a temporary setback, but largely, Indian aviation is well managed. SOPs and safety norms are well in place in India's aviation growth,' he said.
Thursday's accident is being probed by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which comes under the civil aviation ministry. Patel refused to speculate on the reasons behind the crash and said everyone should wait for the AAIB's report. 'The black box has been recovered. While the data will be retrieved within a few months, it will take a little longer for the government to come out with a report detailing the exact reasons behind the crash,' he said.
Patel also played down speculation that a bird hit may have led to the crash. 'Even if one of the two engines had failed, technically, the plane is equipped to take off and travel the full distance. Watching the video, it seems that there was no problem at the time of the takeoff. Otherwise, the pilot would have avoided it,' he said.
The NCP leader also called on passengers not to be scared of air travel following the crash. 'India's overall safety standards are well-defined and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation keeps updating these norms in line with international norms,' he said.
Meanwhile, Tata Group chairman N Chandrasekaran on Friday described the crash as 'one of the darkest days in Tata Group's history.' In a letter addressed to employees, Chandrasekaran conveyed his grief over the loss of lives, calling the tragedy 'incomprehensible.'
'Words are no consolation right now, but my thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the people who died and were injured in the crash. We are here for them. I want to say that, like you, we want to understand what happened. We don't know right now, but we will,' Chandrasekaran wrote in the letter.
With inputs from PTI