Boeing 787 Crash Brings Fresh Scrutiny to Plane-Maker's Safety Record
EDITORS NOTE: EDS: SUBS for complete writethru with new approach; SUBS byline; UPDATES related stories list.); (Attn: S.C.); (ART ADV: With photo.); (With: INDIA-PLANE-CRASH, INDIA-CRASH-EXPLAINER, INDIA-CRASH-SCENE, INDIA-CRASH-CAUSE); Alex Travelli and Pragati K.B. contributed reporting.
Boeing suffered another setback Thursday, when a crash of one of its passenger jets in western India renewed scrutiny of the company's safety record following a yearslong quality crisis.
It could take months or years to determine the cause of the crash, in which an Air India passenger plane, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and crew members, slammed into a medical college in Ahmedabad, in the Indian state of Gujarat.
Manufacturing issues may ultimately have little to do with what went wrong, but the episode -- the first fatal crash involving a Dreamliner -- could still lead to more scrutiny into concerns about Boeing's production practices that go back years.
"Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171, as well as everyone affected in Ahmedabad," Kelly Ortberg, Boeing's chief executive, said in a statement.
Ortberg also said that he had spoken with N. Chandrasekaran, the chair of Tata Group, the conglomerate that owns Air India, and offered Boeing's support. The company said it had a team ready to help with the investigation, which is being led by India's aviation regulators.
Plane crashes are typically caused by multiple factors that can include such things as bird strikes, pilot error, manufacturing defects and inadequate maintenance. Early hypotheses are often ruled out during lengthy, technical crash investigations.
The first Dreamliner was delivered in 2011 to All Nippon Airways, Japan's largest airline. There are more than 1,100 in service today, including nearly three dozen operated by Air India, according to Cirium, an aviation data firm.
The plane involved in the crash Thursday was delivered to Air India in January 2014 and had accumulated more than 41,000 flight hours, according to Cirium. The plane had taken off or landed nearly 8,000 times over its life, a typical amount for a Dreamliner of that age.
Thursday's crash comes as Boeing is still dealing with repercussions from two deadly accidents involving its 737 Max plane in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people. The company reached a deal with the Justice Department last month, which would spare Boeing from taking criminal responsibility for the crashes.
Boeing has agreed to admit to obstructing federal oversight, pay a fine, contribute to a fund for the families of the victims and invest in safety and quality programs. The agreement, which requires the approval of a judge, was opposed by some of the families of crash victims.
The airplane manufacturer has faced other prominent safety issues in recent years.
In January 2024, a hole blew open on a new 737 Max 9 during an Alaska Airlines flight, exposing passengers to forceful winds. Boeing told regulators in August that it would redesign the panels to better detect any malfunctions.
That episode prompted widespread reforms at the company. Among them was an overhaul of senior management, including its chief executive; substantial changes in quality processes and procedures; increased regulatory scrutiny; and Boeing's purchase of a major supplier of Max bodies.
The Dreamliner has been the subject of quality concerns, too. Deliveries of the plane were paused for more than a year until the summer of 2022, when the Federal Aviation Administration approved a Boeing plan to make some fixes that included filling paper-thin gaps in the plane's body and replacing certain titanium parts that were made with the wrong material. Those problems had no immediate impact on the safety of Dreamliners, Boeing said at the time.
Last year, the FAA investigated claims by a Boeing engineer who claimed that the company had taken shortcuts around the time of the delivery pause in fitting together parts of the Dreamliner fuselage, or body. The whistleblower, Sam Salehpour, said that the improper procedures could cause premature damage over years of use.
Boeing disputed the claim, including at a briefing last year for reporters at the factory in North Charleston, South Carolina, where the Dreamliner has been assembled for years. Two top Boeing engineers said then that the company had found no evidence to support the whistleblower's concerns after conducting exhaustive tests, inspections and analyses of the plane during its development and in recent years.
One 787 airframe had been subjected to testing that put it through 165,000 "flight cycles," the equivalent pressurization and depressurization of that many flights. That figure far exceeded the plane's expected useful life, and the airframe still showed no signs of fatigue, Steve Chisholm, a vice president and the functional chief engineer for mechanical and structural engineering at Boeing, said at the briefing in South Carolina.
Boeing also said then that nearly 700 Dreamliners had gone through thorough six-year maintenance checks, and eight had gone through 12-year checks. Mechanics found no signs of premature fatigue in those jets either, according to the company.
Other whistleblowers have raised concerns about the South Carolina factory where the Dreamliner has been assembled for years. Among them was John Barnett, a former quality manager with almost three decades of experience at Boeing, who went public with his concerns about shoddy practices in 2019.
Barnett killed himself last year after a yearslong legal battle with the company, which he accused of retaliating against him for raising his concerns. Last month, Boeing settled a lawsuit with Barnett's family concerning his death.
But the Dreamliner involved in Thursday's crash predated those concerns: It was built years earlier in Seattle and delivered to Air India in 2014, according to Cirium.
Ortberg, who took over as Boeing's chief executive over the summer, described 2025 as "our turnaround year" in a message to employees in April, when the company released better-than-expected quarterly financial results. At the time, the company said it had stabilized Dreamliner production at five planes per month but planned to increase that to seven later in the year.
The company's shares were down about 5% in midafternoon trading Thursday.
Air India, one of the country's biggest carriers, had a cluster of dangerous incidents about 15 years ago. Before Thursday's crash, the airline's last fatal crash was in August 2020. The airline, which was taken over by the Tata Group in 2022 after decades of government ownership, has been working in recent years to improve its safety record and upgrade and expand its plane fleet.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Copyright 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Business News
2 days ago
- Time Business News
Holistic development through Bachpan SPROUT: A Guide for Parents
Bachpan SPROUT Curriculum, India's leading curriculum, is a revolutionary approach to early education that aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) 2022. Spread across 1,200+ branches, Bachpan Play School blends personalized learning with playful experiences through its SPROUT Curriculum, making learning a happy habit, not just another chore. It is crucial to make the most of children's foundational years. Through project-based education, SPROUT assesses the individual needs of children and provides targeted support, ensuring they reach their full potential. Every child learns the right way, every day, with joy and independence! What does SPROUT stand for? The SPROUT curriculum stands for: Structured curriculum, Personalized learning paths, Rooted in 20 years of legacy, Oriented towards NEP 2020, Unique approach to Holistic Education, and Tech-driven learning. SPROUT Curriculum is supported by a 7-layer system that empowers and ensures every child is empowered as a whole, directed towards social, physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual aspects. The vision behind Bachpan's innovative learning approach: Bachpan envisions nurturing every child into a mindful, empathetic, and well-rounded individual. Drawing inspiration from Panchakosha Shiksha—an ancient Indian philosophy, this approach focuses on the holistic growth of a child across interconnected layers of being, blending tradition with modern early education. Why does structured early learning matter in India? Learning becomes active, not passive. For parents, its confidence in knowing their child is being taught with the most engaging and effective resources. Bachpan SPROUT Curriculum isn't just about ABCs and 123s. It's about asking: 'Is my child learning in a way that builds her/him from the inside out?' Holistic development through age-appropriate learning: With over 20 years of experience in nurturing young minds, the SPROUT curriculum is the culmination of hours of expert research and development, integrating best practices from around the world. Thoughtfully planned, age-appropriate learning programs are designed to ensure children develop across all key domains. Activity-based teaching and use of smart technology: The SPROUT curriculum in India also incorporates tools like the Speaking pen, smart books, and interactive digital content to foster critical thinking and creativity. These tech-driven methods make learning engaging and accessible. Role of educators in bringing SPROUT to life: By creating a program that doesn't rush childhood, SPROUT brings together the warmth of values, the edge of innovations and advancements, and the strength to make sure little ones don't just learn, but live every part of it. Why is SPROUT considered the best preschool curriculum in India? Incorporating global early education standards with Indian values, Bachpan SPROUT Curriculum nurtures the flexibility for child-led exploration. With trained professionals, educators, and teachers, children are not just ready for academic growth but also become confident, emotionally grounded, and curious leaders of tomorrow. Tailored for Indian cultural and academic contexts: It integrates traditional Indian values like respect, diversity, and integrity, helping children stay rooted in their cultural identity. At the same time, it aligns with national education goals focusing on making learning more holistic and meaningful. Parents have noted visible growth in their child's overall development, allowing space for creativity and flexibility in their schedule. Similarly, Bachpan Play School franchisees report high satisfaction due to the strong support, standardized training, and consistent positive outcomes that build trust among families. Across the board, Bachpan SPROUT Curriculum is praised for being both practical and progressive in its early educational approach. Mr. Ajay Gupta, founder of Bachpan Play School, said, 'True learning happens when a child feels safe, seen, and celebrated. That's the foundation we build on' . Every child is unique in their own way; they just need someone to hold their hand and show them the right path. At Bachpan, it is ensured that SPROUT paves a path for not just academic excellence but strong values, emotional well-being, cultural connection, and confident self-expression. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
UPI
3 days ago
- UPI
Air India identifies crew from crash, announces service reductions
Search and recovery teams examine the tail section of Air India flight 171 after it crashed in Ahmedabad, India last week. Photo by Hanif Sindh/UPI | License Photo June 20 (UPI) -- Air India on Friday named the cabin crew members who died in last week's crash aboard Flight AI171, which went down just after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India. The airline posted to X a statement that identified the 10 crew members killed in the incident, and called them "beloved colleagues, cherished friends, and the soul of every journey they were a part of." Air India also posted the name of the flight's First Officer on Thursday, and then announced that a temporary reduction in flights aboard Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft would begin as of Saturday and continue into mid-July. "The reductions arise from the decision to voluntarily undertake enhanced pre-flight safety checks," the company explained in a social media post, "as well as accommodate additional flight durations arising from airspace closures in the Middle East." "The objective is to restore schedule stability and minimize last-minute inconvenience to passengers," it added. As a result, flights AI169/170 from Amritsar and AI145/146 from Mopa, both Indian cities, to London Gatwick have been suspended until at least July 15, while flight AI961/962 between Delhi, India, and Nairobi, Kenya, has been suspended until at least June 30. The frequency of flights to North America, Europe, Australia and East Asia continue but have been reduced until July 15. Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, was bound for London when it crashed last week in a populated area and struck a medical college shortly after takeoff, killing more than 260 people. Air India publicly identified the captain Tuesday. The investigation into why Flight AI171 crashed continues. It has been publicly stated that the plane had a new engine, as well as another that wasn't due for servicing until December. The aircraft's black box is being sent to the United States for analysis due to its reportedly being damaged in the crash. There has also been speculation that either two of its engines failed or there was either a total hydraulic or electronic malfunction. The entire Air India Dreamliner fleet has been under inspection, and so far, 26 out of its 33 Dreamliners have been returned to service.
New York Times
4 days ago
- New York Times
As Dense Cities Encircle India's Busiest Airports, Dangers Multiply
Bhavesh Patni had just sat down with his family for a lunch of eggplant and potato curry when an Air India plane took off from the runway behind their home in the city of Ahmedabad, flew over their heads and crashed into a medical college campus visible from their building. As Mr. Patni climbed up to his terrace to watch the flames from a disaster that would ultimately kill 241 people on the plane and at least 34 on the ground, he shuddered as he thought about his family's proximity to the nightmare below them. In Ahmedabad, as in cities across this country of 1.4 billion people, there is little buffer between the increasingly busy airport and the densely populated neighborhoods that encircle it. That puts residents in the danger zone if anything goes wrong during takeoffs and landings, the time when most aviation accidents occur. This reality illustrates a pressing challenge for India. The country's growing wealth has given it the means to be more on the move. Air passenger traffic has doubled over the past decade, as has the number of operational airports. But India's expanding aviation ambitions have been superimposed on existing urban infrastructures that are already pushed to the limit by the rapid growth of cities. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
