Air India's Campbell Wilson assures flyers of safety, eyes full return of international ops by October 1
In a communication to Maharaja Club members, Wilson said the airline has conducted comprehensive inspections across its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleet under the supervision of India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). No issues were found in the inspections. He also confirmed that additional checks on fuel control switch mechanisms of Boeing 737 and 787-8 aircraft were conducted, yielding similar results.
'We continue to work closely with regulators, maintaining full transparency and ensuring that every action we take aligns with the highest standards of safety and care,' Wilson said. The 'Safety Pause,' first communicated on June 19, included a temporary reduction in flight schedules to allow for intensified pre-flight inspections and to manage disruptions from regional airspace closures. The airline used the downtime to fast-track aircraft reliability upgrades and improve delay management processes. All Air India aircraft undergo multi-layered safety checks before take-off, and the airline's Integrated Operations Control Centre monitors every flight in real time. Crew and engineering teams train regularly at the Air India Training Academy, adhering to the latest global safety procedures. Wilson also highlighted that Air India operates under a Safety Management System that meets DGCA and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) standards. The airline undergoes annual DGCA audits and a bi-annual IATA Operational Safety Audit by external experts. He said the DGCA recently described Air India's audit findings as 'entirely normal' for an airline of its size. Since privatisation, Air India has appointed global aviation consultancy Oliver Wyman/CAVOK to conduct a full safety assessment and engaged Boeing for an Operational Efficacy Program, aiming to modernise internal systems further. Wilson acknowledged operational disruptions in recent weeks and assured passengers that corrective measures are being taken. He added that the airline's fleet retrofit programme is on track to enhance onboard experience. 'So, whenever you choose to fly with Air India, know that your trust is valued and your journey safeguarded by our entire Air India family,' Wilson said.
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Berlin to Bharuch: The Borosil journey after the China hit in Europe
FIIs are exiting while retail investors stay put. Will a costly market make them pay?
BlackRock returns, this time with Ambani. Will it be lucky second time?
Paid less than plumbers? The real story of freshers' salaries at Infy, TCS.
Stock Radar: Down 27% from highs! Hero MotoCorp stock shows signs of momentum after breaking out from 11-week consolidation
For those prepared for the long game: 5 mid-cap stocks from different sectors with an upside potential of 14 to 33% in one year
Financial services: Time to look at a new set for the next cycle? 5 stocks from the financial services space with upside potential of up to 37%
These 8 banking stocks can give more than 29% returns in 1 year, according to analysts
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ahmedabad plane crash: 65 families who lost kin hire US-based law firm Beasley Allen
At least 65 families from India and the United Kingdom who lost kin in the horrific June 12 Air India plane crash have hired prominent United States-based law firm Beasley Allen . The law firm's aviation attorney Mike Andrews visited the crash site in Meghaninagar area in Ahmedabad before coming to Vadodara city, where he met some of the victim families. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program While talking to the reporters here on Friday, Andrews said the families have an option of filing a product liability claim in a US court depending on the findings of the ongoing investigation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 15 Most Beautiful Women in the World Undo Families who have contacted the law firm want to know what happened, why it happened and what are the options they have, Andrews added. He urged the Union government to release the data of the flight data recorder as well as cockpit voice recorder so that lawyers and experts can analyse it and explore further legal options. Live Events On June 12, Air India flight AI 171 , a Boeing 787-8 aircraft en route to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft burst into flames, killing 241 out of 242 people onboard and 19 individuals on the ground, including four medical students. "We visited the crash site and spoke with some of the individuals who were there. We were able to take some photographs and get a feeling of the size of the scene. We met families from the UK and India, and they all expressed their burning desire for answers, for transparency and information," said Andrews. According to his media team, the majority of those 65 families from India and UK hail from Gujarat and neighbouring Diu. "We currently represent 65 families who are citizens of both India and the UK. Legal options are based on the data and what investigations reveal. It will give us an idea which entity may or may not be responsible. If Boeing is found to be responsible for this crash, we anticipate the cases will be filed in the Federal court in the US," said Andrews. He asserted the best place to hold companies accountable is in the USA using product liability laws available there. "The US legal system is set up in a way that an individual, a consumer or family, can stand on a level playing field with a multinational firm such as Boeing, look them in the eye and request accountability," he claimed. "We don't know whose error was that. The allegation is that a switch was removed. A very small piece of information has been released from the cockpit voice recorder. What we don't know is the larger context, what other conversations were held between the pilots. Once we have data, we will know that," he added. Andrews claimed a report suggesting pilot error in the crash was a "narrative typically originated from the manufacturer and its an attempt to deflect focus from their product". When asked if Indian pilots are purposefully blamed in this case, he said, "Not just Indian pilots, more often than not, pilots who are dead are the ones who are blamed. In other incidents wherein planes landed safely, those pilots were not blamed, because those pilots can speak for themselves." He emphasised that until the data of the crash is made available, it is difficult to find out what exactly happened and whether something has been hidden intentionally. "Families want data to be released to their attorneys and experts. We know Air India and the Indian government have this information. It is time to reveal that data so that experts can help families understand," he said. From Vadodara, Andrews will travel to Surat and then to Diu to meet the families who have agreed to pursue the case. Before leaving for the United Kingdowm , he will visit Ahmedabad and meet the kin of the victims, said his team. PTI
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Air India Crash: US Lawyer representing victim families outlines legal options, cites product liability and Montreal Convention as potential avenues
Synopsis Following the Ahmedabad plane crash, a lawyer is exploring legal avenues for the victims' families. The focus is on potential product liability claims in the United States if a defect is found. Air India claims would likely fall under the Montreal Convention. The lawyer stresses aviation safety and the importance of unbiased data from the flight recorders. ANI AI-171 Crash: US Lawyer representing victim families outlines legal options, cites product liability and Montreal Convention as potential avenues Mike Andrew, the lawyer representing the family of a victim in the recent Ahmedabad plane crash, has outlined potential legal avenues depending on the findings of the flight data recorder and cockpit voice emphasised that if the crash is linked to a defect in the aircraft, such as issues with the FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) system or the throttle control, a product liability claim could be filed in the United States. Alternatively, if Air India is held responsible, claims would likely fall under the Montreal Convention."Potential legal options will depend on what the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder reveal in terms of what happened here. Suppose the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder indicate that there is a defect with the aircraft, for example with the with the FADEC system or the throttle control malfunctioning, in that case the options are to bring a defective product or a product liability claim in the United States for those claims. If it's an Air India claim, then those would most likely fall under the Montreal Convention," he Andrew highlighted the importance of aviation and product safety, stressing that the public deserves safe transportation. "Aviation safety, product safety, matters to everyone. Whether you are a member of the flying public on an aero plane or, as some of the victims in this case, on the ground, in the building. As a whole, the public deserves safe products. We need to be able to count on transportation to be safe. And so, part of what product liability attorneys like myself do is to fight for improvements in products as we go forward," he said. "The FDR is digital data, and it contains the record of what the computers were doing, what the engines were doing, what inputs were being commanded into the software. And so in order for everyone to understand what happened here, we need that complete, unbiased, accurate record," he noted the advantages of pursuing legal action in the U.S., where individuals can hold multinational corporations accountable, stating, "There are many advantages to filing cases in the United States. Our legal system is such that, in the U.S., one person can stand on a level playing field with a multinational corporation and ask for accountability, ask for answers, and ask to hold that corporation or company accountable for what they've done. And so, we feel it's important, because the plane, in this case, was manufactured in the United States, that the families, the victims, have a voice in those claims in the U.S."Additionally, he cautioned against premature blame on the pilots, citing a 2019 incident involving a similar throttle control issue, and urged for the release of critical data to ascertain the cause of the crash."This plane is equipped with a throttle control malfunctioning system. In other words, if the plane thinks the throttle is malfunctioning, it can turn the fuel back. It can cut power to the engines. We know there was at least one other incident in 2019, the All Nippon case, in which a 787 coming in on landing suffered an engine failure, both engines, but the plane was able to land. That's interesting. In that case, despite both engines suffering a power failure and the computer dialling it back, a significant distinction remains: those pilots were not blamed because they are still alive. In this case, we believe it is highly speculative and a rush to judgment to blame the pilots, who cannot speak for themselves. We just don't know what happened. And that makes the release of the data that much more important," he said. Mike Andrew advocated for respect and transparency for families. He said transparency is essential to accountability, finding answers, and identifying responsible parties. "The families deserve respect and transparency, knowing exactly what happened. Only with transparency can you hope to achieve accountability, find the answers, determine who is responsible, and seek accountability. And you're fighting for them."Mike Andrew specializes in aviation litigation and has earned recognition as one of the Top 10 Aviation Attorneys by the National Trial Lawyers Association.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Air India Crash: US Lawyer representing victim families outlines legal options, cites product liability and Montreal Convention as potential avenues
Mike Andrew, the lawyer representing the family of a victim in the recent Ahmedabad plane crash, has outlined potential legal avenues depending on the findings of the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. He emphasised that if the crash is linked to a defect in the aircraft, such as issues with the FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) system or the throttle control, a product liability claim could be filed in the United States. Alternatively, if Air India is held responsible, claims would likely fall under the Montreal Convention. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program "Potential legal options will depend on what the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder reveal in terms of what happened here. Suppose the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder indicate that there is a defect with the aircraft, for example with the with the FADEC system or the throttle control malfunctioning, in that case the options are to bring a defective product or a product liability claim in the United States for those claims. If it's an Air India claim, then those would most likely fall under the Montreal Convention," he said. Mike Andrew highlighted the importance of aviation and product safety, stressing that the public deserves safe transportation. "Aviation safety, product safety, matters to everyone. Whether you are a member of the flying public on an aero plane or, as some of the victims in this case, on the ground, in the building. As a whole, the public deserves safe products. We need to be able to count on transportation to be safe. And so, part of what product liability attorneys like myself do is to fight for improvements in products as we go forward," he said. Live Events "The FDR is digital data, and it contains the record of what the computers were doing, what the engines were doing, what inputs were being commanded into the software. And so in order for everyone to understand what happened here, we need that complete, unbiased, accurate record," he added. He noted the advantages of pursuing legal action in the U.S., where individuals can hold multinational corporations accountable, stating, "There are many advantages to filing cases in the United States. Our legal system is such that, in the U.S., one person can stand on a level playing field with a multinational corporation and ask for accountability, ask for answers, and ask to hold that corporation or company accountable for what they've done. And so, we feel it's important, because the plane, in this case, was manufactured in the United States, that the families, the victims, have a voice in those claims in the U.S." Additionally, he cautioned against premature blame on the pilots, citing a 2019 incident involving a similar throttle control issue, and urged for the release of critical data to ascertain the cause of the crash. "This plane is equipped with a throttle control malfunctioning system. In other words, if the plane thinks the throttle is malfunctioning, it can turn the fuel back. It can cut power to the engines. We know there was at least one other incident in 2019, the All Nippon case, in which a 787 coming in on landing suffered an engine failure, both engines, but the plane was able to land. That's interesting. In that case, despite both engines suffering a power failure and the computer dialling it back, a significant distinction remains: those pilots were not blamed because they are still alive. In this case, we believe it is highly speculative and a rush to judgment to blame the pilots, who cannot speak for themselves. We just don't know what happened. And that makes the release of the data that much more important," he said. Mike Andrew advocated for respect and transparency for families. He said transparency is essential to accountability, finding answers, and identifying responsible parties. "The families deserve respect and transparency, knowing exactly what happened. Only with transparency can you hope to achieve accountability, find the answers, determine who is responsible, and seek accountability. And you're fighting for them." Mike Andrew specializes in aviation litigation and has earned recognition as one of the Top 10 Aviation Attorneys by the National Trial Lawyers Association.
