New Delhi |Air India has confirmed that one of the engines on its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed last week had been newly installed, while the second was within its maintenance schedule. The airline made the disclosure as investigators continue to examine flight data and wreckage from the fatal crash that killed 270 people.
The crash occurred less than a minute after flight A171 took off from Ahmedabad airport, en route to London. The plane plummeted shortly after becoming airborne, leaving no known survivors among passengers and crew.
Air India chairman N. Chandrasekaran said the aircraft had no prior issues. “The right engine was new and installed in March 2025,” he told the media sources. “The left engine was serviced in 2023 and scheduled for maintenance in December 2025.”
Both engines, he emphasized, had “clean operational histories.” Chandrasekaran urged the public not to speculate. “There are many theories, but the black boxes will provide the facts,” he said. “We have to wait for the data to be analyzed.”
Authorities recovered both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. Investigators are now reviewing those devices to reconstruct the final moments of the flight.
Aviation safety experts have weighed in on the technical aspects of the engines. Saeed Chinta, a former investigator familiar with Boeing aircraft, noted that engine condition depends more on internal data than age.
“The Genx-1B engines used on this model don’t follow fixed overhaul schedules,” Chinta explained. “Instead, they are monitored in real time through a system called FADEC, which tracks performance and wear.”
He added that while the engine itself is continuously assessed, some parts called Life Limited Parts must still be replaced after a set number of cycles. Each engine cycle includes one start-up and one shutdown, usually tied to a flight leg.
The aircraft involved in the crash had not shown signs of failure before takeoff, according to Air India’s records. The investigation, now led by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, is expected to take months.
In response to the crash, Air India has grounded part of its wide-body fleet and announced a temporary reduction in international flights. The airline said it would reduce long-haul operations by 15% through mid-July, citing heightened safety checks and staff caution following the disaster.
“This curtailment is painful but necessary,” the airline said in a statement. “We’re navigating the aftermath of an unprecedented event while also managing rising tensions in the Middle East.”
Air India also confirmed that 26 of its 33 Boeing 787 aircraft have passed enhanced safety inspections and returned to service. The remaining seven are scheduled for evaluation in the coming days. The airline’s Boeing 777 jets will also undergo additional safety checks.
The crash marks a major setback for Air India’s efforts to rebuild its brand. Tata Sons, which bought the airline from the Indian government in 2022, has been investing heavily to revive the once-ailing carrier. Chandrasekaran, who also chairs Tata Sons, has led the overhaul aimed at transforming Air India into a competitive global airline.
The disaster has sparked renewed scrutiny of aviation safety standards and aircraft maintenance practices. Regulatory agencies across India and abroad are closely watching the findings of the investigation.
For now, families of the victims and the public await answers. The data recorders are expected to clarify what went wrong in the final 48 seconds of flight A171answers that will shape the future of India’s aviation landscape.
