Latest news with #BoeingCo
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Business Standard
13 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
A-I crash: Govt seeks law banning non-conforming structures near airports
The proposal seeks to empower India's aviation regulator to examine complaints of unlawful construction and order owners to trim trees or reduce the height of a non-conforming building within 60 days Bloomberg India plans to clamp down on structures near airports that don't comply with height regulation, as the governments seeks to tighten aviation safety in the wake of an airliner crash last week that ranks as the country's worst in several decades. The government is drafting a law that would allow the demolition of buildings near airfields that don't meet vertical limits, which isn't the case now. The bill will be open for public feedback for three weeks, after which the responses will be analyzed and then drafted into a law. The proposal seeks to empower India's aviation regulator to examine complaints of unlawful construction and order owners to trim trees or reduce the height of a non-conforming building within 60 days. Failure to respond could lead to an actual demolition of the building, according to the draft. India is reeling from a deadly crash involving a Boeing Co. 787 airliner that smashed into densely populated part of Ahmedabad on June 12. The accident killed all but one of the 242 occupants on the plane and at least 30 on the ground after the London-bound airliner came down in an urban district just off the runway. The cause of the crash isn't known — and a collision with a building or other structure on the ground hasn't been identified as a possible reason. Experts have paid particular attention to the apparent lack of lift for the plane that led the jet to sink back to the ground just seconds after takeoff. Some analysts cautioned that while many airports around the country have buildings nearby that violate height norms, following through with an actual demolition will be hard. 'While it's easy to make rules, it will be next to impossible to implement them,' given the scale of non-conforming structures, said Mark Martin, founder and CEO at Martin Consulting, an aviation advisory firm. Late last year, an airliner operated by Jeju Air Co. slammed into a barrier at end of a runway at Muan International Airport in South Korea. That accident, which killed 179 people on board the Boeing 737, also led to a review of structures in vicinity of runways.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Families of 737 crash victims urge US judge to reject Boeing deal
Lawyers for 15 families argued Boeing should stand trial for criminal conspiracy as the government had originally planned, to hold the company more accountable for the deaths of 346 people Bloomberg Family members of people killed in two fatal crashes of Boeing Co's 737 Max jets urged a federal judge to reject a proposed deal the company reached with US prosecutors that would allow the planemaker to avoid a criminal charge. Lawyers for 15 families argued Boeing should stand trial for criminal conspiracy as the government had originally planned, to hold the company more accountable for the deaths of 346 people, according to a court filing Wednesday. Some family members asked the judge to appoint a special prosecutor to oversee the case. 'The conspiracy charge against Boeing has been pending now for more than four years,' the families' lawyers said. 'Boeing has admitted all the facts necessary to prove it is guilty. And yet, the government now moves to dismiss the charge.' They added, 'It is difficult to imagine a case more deserving of a public trial than this one.' The US Justice Department in May asked US District Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth to dismiss the case as part of a proposed settlement reached with Boeing. Under the deal, the planemaker agreed to pay more than $1.1 billion in fees and fines, while taking steps to strengthen internal quality and safety measures. In return, the company will avoid criminal prosecution. Prosecutors have argued that the deal 'secures meaningful accountability' and ensures Boeing faces penalties and oversight, an outcome they say would not be guaranteed if they took the case to trial. Asked to comment on the relatives' objections, a Boeing representative pointed to a May 29 company statement. 'Boeing is committed to complying with its obligations under this resolution, which include a substantial additional fine and commitments to further institutional improvements and investments,' the company said. The families also claimed language in the deal would obligate the government to not prosecute Boeing even if O'Connor rejects the motion to dismiss the case, which would skirt full judicial review. 'If this court approves the parties' maneuver in this widely publicized case, then this unprecedented approach will likely become the blueprint for all future dismissal motions in federal criminal prosecutions,' they said in the filing. In a separate filing, some family members asked the judge to appoint an independent prosecutor to 'restore integrity to these proceedings and ensure that justice — rather than politics — guides the resolution of this matter.' Relatives of crash victims have spent years fighting for harsher penalties for Boeing following the two fatal crashes of its 737 Max jet in 2018 and 2019. Both crashes were linked to a flawed flight control system on the jets. The families said the fatal Air India crash earlier this month involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner shows that 'the stakes for aviation safety are very high.' The cause of the crash remains under investigation. To be sure, some families support the settlement. But those who want Boeing to go to trial said the company had dangled money 'in front of the families, apparently hoping that it will lead them to back off their efforts to hold Boeing accountable for killing their loved ones. And Boeing's offer appears to have had the desired effect, at least with respect to a few families.' If O'Connor agrees to a dismissal, it would end the long-running criminal case against Boeing over the crashes. But it would also mark a notable reversal in the proceedings. Just last year, Boeing had agreed to plead guilty to the pending criminal conspiracy charge under a deal that was ultimately rejected by O'Connor. Under the new settlement Boeing will admit to the underlying accusation of 'conspiracy to obstruct and impede the lawful operation of the Federal Aviation Administration Aircraft Evaluation Group,' but that admission does not constitute a guilty plea. The government said it could refile criminal charges against the company if Boeing is accused of violating the terms of the two-agreement. Some family members dispute that claim, saying the statute of limitations has already expired. The agreement requires Boeing to pay a total of $1.1 billion in assorted fines and fees. The total includes: $487.2 million for a criminal penalty, half of which the company already paid to the government during an earlier phase of the case $444.5 million for a new 'Crash-Victims Beneficiaries Fund' that will be divided evenly by crash victim $455 million in investments to bolster its compliance, safety and quality programs Boeing would be required to retain a so-called independent compliance consultant to oversee its efforts to improve the effectiveness of its anti-fraud compliance and ethics program. The consultant will be expected to make recommendations for improvements and report their findings directly to the government. The case is US v. Boeing, 21-cr-005, US District Court, Northern District of Texas (Fort Worth).
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Boeing Progressing at Fastest Pace in Years on Air Force One
Boeing Co. said it's made more progress in the past four to five months on the long-delayed new presidential aircraft than at any point in the last four years as it identifies ways to streamline the complex program. 'As we go forward, we have been able to see our way through some of these requirements that were just physically impossible to do,' Steve Parker, the interim head of Boeing's defense business, told journalists at the Paris Air Show on Monday. 'We're just making really, really good progress.'
Malaysian Reserve
5 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
India ramps up inspections of Boeing 787s after fatal crash
INDIA aviation regulators said urgent safety checks would be carried out for dozens of Boeing Co. 787 jets in the wake of the Air India crash that killed all but one of the 242 people on board. Air India so far has completed one-time inspections under the direction of India's aviation regulator across nine of the Dreamliner jets in its fleet, with 24 aircraft left to inspect, the carrier said in a post on X on Saturday. The checks are being done as the 787 jets return to India, before being cleared for their next flights. 'Some of these checks could lead to higher turnaround time and potential delays on certain long-haul routes,' Air India said. The nation's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, said Friday it had ordered maintenance checks on all of Air India's Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric Co.'s GEnx engines. The inspections, to be carried out over two weeks, cover fuel, cabin-air, engine-control and hydraulics systems after the Air India plane appeared to lose thrust as it took off. Investigators have been surveying the wreckage of Air India flight AI171 to determine what caused the aircraft to fail shortly after takeoff on Thursday and plunge into a densely populated residential area in the western city of Ahmedabad. The incident ranks as the worst disaster in civil aviation in more than a decade. The accident site was cordoned off Saturday after rescue operations ended and the probe intensified. Experts from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and Boeing, as well as several civil aviation authorities, have surveyed the location. One of the plane's two black boxes — which hold key flight and voice data from the flight — has been found. The last communication from flight captain Sumeet Sabharwal to air traffic control was 'Mayday…no thrust, losing power, unable to lift,' the UK's Telegraph newspaper reported. Thursday's crash is the first-ever complete loss of a 787, a plane Boeing introduced more than a decade ago with advanced lightweight composite materials that improve fuel efficiency. Airlines around the world are waiting to see if regulators would demand broader inspections of 787 jets, or even a grounding, though so far they haven't taken that step. 'The remaining aircraft are being checked on an urgent basis,' India said in an update on its website Saturday. 'The DGCA has also intensified ongoing surveillance of maintenance protocols and airworthiness procedures for all wide-body aircraft operating in India.' Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu told reporters in New Delhi that a special multidepartment team has been set up to investigate all the non-technical aspects around the crash and will issue a report in three months. Eight of the 34 Boeing 787 planes in the country have been inspected, he said. Air India said it was working to complete checks for its remaining aircraft. It was unclear if Naidu was including in the tally an additional jet, leased by IndiGo. A representative for IndiGo didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Investigative teams from the UK and US arrived Friday in Ahmedabad to assist with the crash probe. Bodies were being released in batches on Friday from the hospital's post-mortem room. Students of the B.J. Medical College were having lunch in their hostel dining hall on Thursday when the jet loaded with fuel smashed into the building and exploded. Medical students were overcome with emotion as they received the bodies of friends who had lost their lives. More than 200 trained caregivers are in place to provide counseling and other services to family members of victims, Air India's Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson said in a video posted on X on Saturday. Members of Air India's management were also on site, he added. Air India will be paying the equivalent of roughly 21,000 British pounds ($28,500) to each of the families of the deceased and to the survivor, the carrier said. This is in addition to the some 85,000 British pounds announced by Air India owner Tata Sons. –BLOOMBERG
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
DGCA ramps up inspections of Boeing 787 jets following Air India crash
Air India so far has completed one-time inspections under the direction of India's aviation regulator across nine of the Dreamliner jets in its fleet Bloomberg By Mihir Mishra and Leen Al-Rashdan India aviation regulators said urgent safety checks would be carried out for dozens of Boeing Co. 787 jets in the wake of the Air India crash that killed all but one of the 242 people on board. Air India so far has completed one-time inspections under the direction of India's aviation regulator across nine of the Dreamliner jets in its fleet, with 24 aircraft left to inspect, the carrier said in a post on X on Saturday. The checks are being done as the 787 jets return to India, before being cleared for their next flights. 'Some of these checks could lead to higher turnaround time and potential delays on certain long-haul routes,' Air India said. Message from Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India. — Air India (@airindia) June 14, 2025 The nation's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, said Friday it had ordered maintenance checks on all of Air India's Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric Co.'s GEnx engines. The inspections, to be carried out over two weeks, cover fuel, cabin-air, engine-control and hydraulics systems after the Air India plane appeared to lose thrust as it took off. Investigators have been surveying the wreckage of Air India flight AI171 to determine what caused the aircraft to fail shortly after takeoff on Thursday and plunge into a densely populated residential area in the western city of Ahmedabad. The incident ranks as the worst disaster in civil aviation in more than a decade. The accident site was cordoned off Saturday after rescue operations ended and the probe intensified. Experts from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and Boeing, as well as several civil aviation authorities, have surveyed the location. One of the plane's two black boxes — which hold key flight and voice data from the flight — has been found. The last communication from flight captain Sumeet Sabharwal to air traffic control was 'Mayday…no thrust, losing power, unable to lift,' the UK's Telegraph newspaper reported. Thursday's crash is the first-ever complete loss of a 787, a plane Boeing introduced more than a decade ago with advanced lightweight composite materials that improve fuel efficiency. Airlines around the world are waiting to see if regulators would demand broader inspections of 787 jets, or even a grounding, though so far they haven't taken that step. 'The remaining aircraft are being checked on an urgent basis,' India said in an update on its website Saturday. 'The DGCA has also intensified ongoing surveillance of maintenance protocols and airworthiness procedures for all wide-body aircraft operating in India.' Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu told reporters in New Delhi that a special multidepartment team has been set up to investigate all the non-technical aspects around the crash and will issue a report in three months. Eight of the 34 Boeing 787 planes in the country have been inspected, he said. Air India said it was working to complete checks for its remaining aircraft. It was unclear if Naidu was including in the tally an additional jet, leased by IndiGo. A representative for IndiGo didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Investigative teams from the UK and US arrived Friday in Ahmedabad to assist with the crash probe. Bodies were being released in batches on Friday from the hospital's post-mortem room. Students of the B.J. Medical College were having lunch in their hostel dining hall on Thursday when the jet loaded with fuel smashed into the building and exploded. Medical students were overcome with emotion as they received the bodies of friends who had lost their lives. More than 200 trained caregivers are in place to provide counseling and other services to family members of victims, Air India's Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson said in a video posted on X on Saturday. Members of Air India's management were also on site, he added. Air India will be paying the equivalent of roughly 21,000 British pounds ($28,500) to each of the families of the deceased and to the survivor, the carrier said. This is in addition to the some 85,000 British pounds announced by Air India owner Tata Sons.
