Latest news with #BoeingDreamliners
Mint
2 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Air India plane crash: No red flags or maintenance issue — N Chandrasekaran says ‘Dreamliners have been operating…'
Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran on Wednesday said there were no red flags with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft before the tragic Air India plane crash that claimed over 270 lives . Chandrasekaran's remarks comes almost a week after the tragic Air India plane crash that killed 241 out of the 242 passengers and cabin crew on board, as well as residents of the building that the aircraft crashed into. 'There were no red flags or maintenance issues (with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft),' he was quoted as saying during an interview with Times Now. Boeing Dreamliners have been operating for a long time now, he added. 'Dreamliners have been operating for a long time,' Chandrasekaran said, adding, 'Safety concerns have never been raised.' Air India was taken over by the Tata Group in 2022 after the Centre put the company up for bid. Chandrasekaran in the interview further revealed that a preliminary report of the June 12 Air India plane crash is expected in 30 days. The Tata Sons Chairman said he has asked aircraft maker Boeing and engine manufacturer GE Aerospace to tell the company if there are any issues with any aircraft made by them. 'We have asked Boeing and GE (Aerospace) to tell us if there are any issues with any aircraft,' Chandrasekaran said. The Air India Chairman 'apologised' for the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last week that claimed more than 270 lives. 'It is an extremely difficult situation where I have no words to express to console any of the families of those who died,' he said in the interview. Chandrasekaran stressed that the Tata Group will do everything to support the families of victims. 'I deeply regret that this accident happened in a Tata-run airline. And I feel very sorry. All we can do is to be with the families at this time, grieve with them and we will do everything to support them at this hour and beyond,' he was quoted as saying. (This is a developing story. Check back for updates)
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Address collateral damage to reputations by putting safety first
The crash has also triggered what may be the costliest claim in India's aviation industry. The aircraft hull and engine value is put at $125 million, while the liability for loss of life of passengers and others on ground could notch up to another $350 million. It has also been a huge setback for Air India, which the Tata Group acquired in October 2021. The company has been on a massive upgrade in recent months, including an order for 500 new planes, rebranding of the name and livery, and refitting of 67 older planes. Much of the hard work may now be under a cloud. Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran acknowledged as much when he said at a recent review that the fatal crash has been the most heartbreaking crisis of his career, and that it should lead to the building of a safer airline. Running an airline is a complex proposition, but the pillar everything rests on is its safety record. Even in the aftermath of the June 12 crash, three other India-bound Boeing Dreamliners operated by Air India and two other airlines were forced to return on safety considerations. Rigorous pre-flight checks have been introduced and at least five Air India flights including a Delhi-Paris Dreamliner flight were cancelled on Tuesday. Even though disruptive in the near term, that is the way to go. Air India also needs to look closely at the doubts raised about its Dreamliner fleet. Perhaps the best way to honour those who perished is to ensure such a disaster does not happen again.
Politico
4 days ago
- Business
- Politico
‘Commercial'? Or not?
With help from Chris Marquette QUICK FIX — Bryan Bedford, the FAA administrator nominee, doesn't hold a license to fly aircraft commercially, records show — but his official biography long said he was 'rated' to do so. — Urgent checks of Boeing Dreamliners in India have begun, and authorities recovered a black box from the passenger jet that crashed in the country last week, killing more than 200 people. — The Senate Finance Committee is expected to drop some of its reconciliation text today. Will it address proposed electric vehicle and hybrid fees? IT'S MONDAY: You're reading Morning Transportation, your Washington policy guide to everything that moves. We're glad you're here. Send tips, feedback and song lyrics to Sam at sogozalek@ Chris at cmarquette@ and Oriana at opawlyk@ and follow us at @SamOgozalek, @ChrisMarquette_ and @Oriana0214. 'I was ridin' shotgun with my hair undone/ In the front seat of his car/ He's got a one-hand feel on the steering wheel/ The other on my heart.' Editor's Note: Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. Driving the day QUESTIONS RAISED: President Donald Trump's nominee to head the FAA, Bryan Bedford, long described himself in his official biography as being 'rated' to fly aircraft commercially — but records examined by POLITICO show that he does not hold any commercial license. One of two of his biography pages at Republic Airways, the regional airline where he has been CEO since 1999, said until Thursday that he 'holds commercial, multi-engine and instrument ratings.' (By Friday, after POLITICO's inquiries, the word 'commercial' had been removed. The other reference was removed sometime in the last six months.) Oriana has the story. — Questions about Bedford's credentials do not appear to threaten his prospects for heading the FAA. He didn't respond to multiple attempts by POLITICO to get his comment, nor did Republic. The White House referred questions to DOT. The department in a statement defended Bedford, saying that 'Bryan never misrepresented his credential; it was an administrative error that was immediately corrected.' Aviation SCRUTINY RAMPS UP: Urgent checks of Boeing 787 Dreamliners are underway in India, and investigators have recovered a black box from the wreckage of the London-bound Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff Thursday in the city of Ahmedabad, killing all but one of the 242 people aboard as well as others on the ground. (It was the first fatal incident for the Dreamliner, and the cause remains unknown.) FALLOUT CONTINUES: We reported last week that Boeing whistleblower Sam Salehpour's attorneys are urging the FAA to release what they say are agency findings that support many of Salehpour's prior allegations of serious quality issues with the company's 787 and 777 planes. On Friday, his lawyers also sent letters to the top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Homeland Security Committee's investigations panel — pushing them to enter the fray. — 'We ask that the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations call on the FAA to release the [investigative report] without further delay,' they wrote to Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who chairs the panel, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), the ranking member. They sent a similar letter to Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), too. (At a hearing last year, Hawley torched Boeing's then-CEO, David Calhoun, as lawmakers probed various issues at the plane-maker.) On The Hill THE WAITING GAME: Reconciliation text from the Senate Finance Committee is anticipated today, though several blanks in the language are expected — likely for thorny issues such as Medicaid provisions, Meredith Lee Hill, Jordain Carney and Benjamin Guggenheim report. One looming question: How will the panel address, if at all, the House's proposed $250 and $100 annual fees on electric and hybrid vehicles, respectively? Both the Senate Commerce and Environment and Public Works Committees didn't tackle that issue, leaving Finance as the predicted landing spot. KEEP 'EM: The Electric Drive Transportation Association is urging Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other key Republicans to 'provide a reasonable transition period,' as opposed to an 'abrupt termination,' for various tax credits the GOP is targeting, such as the consumer EV one known as 30D. — The group also opposes the EV and hybrid fees idea. Ethics DIGGING THROUGH ASSETS: The Office of Government Ethics released Trump's annual financial disclosure Friday, and your MT host took a look. Some notable tidbits: — The president reported two investment accounts with Tesla stock valued at up to $300,000. (These accounts were in a section of his report where officials are supposed to log certain assets and investment income for themselves as well as any spouse and dependent children, according to OGE.) — In the same accounts, he noted Boeing stock valued at up to $80,000. Automobiles GO FASTER: NHTSA is trying to speed up the process for applying for an exemption to federal motor vehicle safety standards that require car designs to have human-interfaceable parts, such as steering wheels and brakes, DOT Secretary Sean Duffy announced Friday. The driverless car industry applauded the move. Chris has the details. — 'The [process] has been rightly criticized for taking years — bogging developers down in unnecessary red tape that makes it impossible to keep pace with the latest technologies,' Duffy said in a statement. THE SPECIFICS: In a public letter Friday, NHTSA's chief counsel, Peter Simshauser, said the agency is going to update its application instructions to try to help ensure that firms submit all of the materials up front, minimizing the need for the agency to request additional information. (Prior reviews have tended to involve 'extensive follow-up with applicants.') NHTSA added that it's 'adopting a more dynamic and flexible approach' to both evaluating and overseeing exemptions. The agency said further details will be released sometime in the future, and it anticipates that the changes will mean it reaches decisions on most requests 'within months rather than years.' DOGE WATCH A DIP IN POPULARITY: Elon Musk's time as a temporary government employee was controversial, to say the least, but he enjoyed strong backing from Republicans as DOGE cut through federal agencies. He's now lost some of that support, though, a new poll from the AP and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found. (In early June, Musk and Trump's relationship seemingly imploded in a social media spat, though the dispute recently cooled off. The survey of 1,158 adults was conducted around the same time.) Here are some key findings: — Musk's 'very favorable' rating among Republicans dipped to 26 percent from 38 percent in April — and those with a 'somewhat favorable' opinion of the billionaire increased from 29 percent to 38 percent, while 'somewhat unfavorable' ticked up from 15 percent to 18 percent. The Caboose SOME LEVITY: The House is enjoying recess this week, the Senate is in town for only a few days ... but things are still busy in D.C. as Republicans work through the upper chamber's version of the reconciliation package. We thought we'd kick Monday off with a bit of fun — trivia! — Earlier this year, your MT host sat down with Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), a former car dealership owner, for an interview. We asked Moreno, who was elected in 2024 and sits on the Senate Commerce Committee, what his favorite mode of transportation is. What do you think he said? Here are three options. One is his actual response and the others are made-up. We'll provide the answer tomorrow morning: — The Funny Bus in Cleveland. — Any car that has a 'shit ton of horsepower.' — A high-speed powerboat. A FEW TIDBITS: Moreno also told us he doesn't plan to be in Congress for 'more than a term or two.' Boosting the U.S. auto industry, he added, is his top priority. And he bemoaned high car prices and dinged the Inflation Reduction Act. Transit ANY CHANGE?: Notice a difference on your commute? Drop us a line if you do. WMATA rolled out automatic train operation technology on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines this past weekend. (It was previously deployed on the Red Line.) The Autobahn — 'Air India Was Struggling Long Before 787 Crash.' Wall Street Journal. — 'How the Man in Seat 11A Became a Plane Crash's Sole Survivor.' New York Times. — 'Is There a Safest Seat in a Plane Crash? We Asked Experts.' New York Times. — 'New Fees on Floating Garages Are Trump's Latest Effort to Revive U.S. Shipbuilding.' New York Times. — 'Boeing CEO cancels air show appearance visit after India crash.' Reuters. — 'May imports drop 9% at busiest US seaport on 145% China tariffs.' Reuters. — 'Boeing Sees Need For 44,000 New Jets; Cautions on Slow Output.' Bloomberg. — 'Delta, United Suspend Flights to Tel Aviv After Iran Bombing.' Bloomberg. — 'China Boosts Tesla Self-Driving Plan With Car-Data Export Rules.' Bloomberg. — 'EPA aims to boost biofuel volumes in transportation fuel.' E&E News. — 'Port of LA warns that tariffs are still disrupting global trade.' POLITICO Pro. On The Calendar — Nothing on our radar! Know of an event we should have on our calendar? Let MT know at transpocalendar@
New York Post
4 days ago
- General
- New York Post
Air India Boeing forced to turn back with mid-air ‘technical issue' just days after crash killed at least 270
An Air India flight was forced to make a U-turn due to a technical scare soon after takeoff Monday, just days after another of the airline's Boeing Dreamliners crashed, killing at least 270 people. Flight AI315 took off from Hong Kong at 12:20 p.m. local time, bound for New Delhi, when the aircraft began an unexpected descent shortly after takeoff. The seven-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had only reached 22,000 feet before it unexpectedly started descending, prompting the pilot to turn the aircraft back to Hong Kong, according to AirNav radar. The seven-year-old Boeing 787-8 had only reached 22,000 feet before it hit the unexpected descent. FlightAware The flight returned to Hong Kong because of 'a technical issue,' Air India said, without giving further details. The plane safely landed back in Hong Kong at 1:15 p.m., and is undergoing checks 'as a matter of abundant precaution,' the airline said. The scare comes just days after Air India Flight 171, also a Boeing Dreamliner, crashed in Ahmedabad just 30 seconds after taking off heading to London Gatwick on Thursday, killing at least 270 people, both on the flight and in a building it crashed into. The mishap comes just days after Air India Flight 171 crashed in Ahmedabad. RAJAT GUPTA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The 12-year-old plane, which had reached a height of 650 feet in the air, went down within just seconds of the mayday call. Only one man, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, survived the horrifying ordeal — one of India's worst aviation disasters in its history. With Post wires
Skift
12-06-2025
- Business
- Skift
6 Facts About Air India's Transformation – and What's at Stake After the Crash
After decades of losses, Air India has ambitious growth plans. Air India Liveblog Ongoing coverage of the crash of Air India flight 171 from Skift's editorial team in India, Europe, and the United States. Ongoing coverage of the crash of Air India flight 171 from Skift's editorial team in India, Europe, and the United States. Get the Latest Updates Skift's coverage of the Air India crash is offered free to all readers. Air India, having recently emerged from decades of financial and operational upheaval, now faces an intensely sobering moment. These six points explain the airline's recent transformation — and the shadow cast by today's disaster. 1: From Government Loss-Maker to Private Rebirth The airline was a deeply loss-making government entity for decades before 2022, when it was sold to the Tata Group, a large Indian conglomerate. 2: Singapore Airlines Enters the Picture As part of the Air India privatization, Singapore Airlines purchased a 25% ownership stake. The latter was for many years eager to expand its footprint in the large and high-potential Indian aviation market. 3: Consolidation Creates a Unified Network The privatization, importantly, coincided with a move to consolidate India's airline sector. Air India merged with Vistara, a young airline backed by Singapore Airlines. At the same time, Air India's low-cost subsidiary Air India Express merged with a smaller low-cost carrier backed by Malaysia's AirAsia Group. 4: One of the Global Leaders in Aircraft Orders Today's enlarged Air India is one of the world's largest airline customers for commercial jet aircraft. According to the aviation data company Cirium, it currently has 516 planes on firm order, roughly two-thirds of them with Airbus and the other third with Boeing. Twenty of those 516 units are Boeing Dreamliners, specifically the -9 version. (The Dreamliner is a common name for Boeing B787 model). The plane that crashed was a smaller -8 version. Air India's active fleet as of yesterday consisted of 27 B787-8s and seven B787-9s, of 305 planes in total. 5: Ambitious Growth Tempered by Delivery Delays The fact that Air India has a fleet of about 300 planes but an order book for about 500 planes highlights its ambitious growth plans. Its growth, however, has been slowed by aircraft delivery delays and engine issues. The airline has 5% more seats scheduled this quarter than the same quarter last year. 6: India's Exclusive Overseas Airline – Until Now Air India is currently the only Indian airline serving overseas markets like North America and western Europe. That's because until recently, it was the only Indian airline with a fleet of long-range twin-aisle aircraft like the B787. That's changing as rival IndiGo likewise plots a worldwide growth campaign. Both carriers hope to capitalize on India's rapid economic growth, eager to take a greater share of the Indian traffic now dominated by Middle Eastern Gulf carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways.
