The central government is urgently inspecting all Boeing 787 aircraft following a devastating Air India crash that claimed at least 270 lives this week, the aviation minister said on Saturday, adding that all possible causes were under investigation.
The aviation regulator on Friday directed Air India to carry out additional maintenance checks on its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft equipped with GEnx engines. These include assessments of specific take-off parameters, electronic engine control tests and checks related to engine fuel systems.
“We have also ordered extended surveillance of the 787 fleet. There are 34 such aircraft in the Indian fleet,” Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu told reporters at a media briefing in New Delhi.
“Eight have already been inspected and, with immediate urgency, all remaining aircraft will be checked.”
Air India operates 33 Boeing 787s, while rival airline IndiGo has one, according to data from Flightradar24.
The aircraft have not been grounded, but the government is reportedly considering that option.
Naidu said the government would explore all possible theories as to what caused the crash. Both Air India and the government are examining several factors, including engine thrust, the deployment of flaps, and why the landing gear remained extended during take-off, before the aircraft came down.
Dozens of distressed family members have gathered outside an Ahmedabad hospital, waiting to collect the remains of loved ones. Doctors are working overtime to collect dental samples for identification and DNA profiling.
Most bodies were severely charred, and authorities are using dental records to aid identification. Forensic dentist Jaishankar Pillai told reporters that dental charts of 135 victims were available, which could be matched using previous dental records, X-rays or radiographs.
469 words / 3017 characters
