Investigations Continue Into Air India Plane Crash, Engine Reports Released

After the tragic crash of Air India's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, the airline's chairman assured that one engine was new and both had clean histories. Investigations aim to uncover the cause while the airline initiates precautionary measures in response.

An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner tragically crashed last week, prompting an extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of the airline, revealed in a recent interview that one of the aircraft’s engines was newly replaced while the other was not due for servicing until December 2025. He emphasized that both engines had "clean" historical records, aiming to dispel rampant speculation surrounding the crash.

During the interview with Times Now, Chandrasekaran provided further details on the right engine, installed in March 2025, and the left engine, which underwent servicing in 2023. The crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, taking the lives of at least 270 individuals onboard, most of whom were passengers. Investigators are meticulously analyzing debris and data from the aircraft's black boxes in hopes of decoding the final moments of the flight and determining the crash's root cause.

Kishore Chinta, a former investigator with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, noted that the health of an aircraft engine cannot be solely determined by its chronological age. He explained that for the Genx-1B engines used in the Boeing 787-8, there is no predetermined maintenance schedule. Instead, a digital system known as Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) continuously tracks the engine's health and performance, shaping decisions around maintenance and replacement.

However, Chinta did mention the existence of Life Limited Parts (LLPs), which have a preset lifespan based on operational cycles. In the wake of the crash, Air India has opted to reduce its international operations involving wide-body aircraft by 15% until mid-July. This measure is part of a broader approach addressing safety concerns, including increased scrutiny and maintenance efforts across the fleet.

The airline reported that inspections of 26 out of its 33 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft have been completed, with all having been cleared for service. As a preventive action, India's aviation regulator mandated further checks on Air India's 787 fleet in light of the incident. Although the airline is implementing these necessary precautions, experts suggest that the crash could significantly impact Air India's efforts to transition from a state-owned venture to a privately-held entity, especially after being acquired by Tata Sons in 2022.