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A Boeing 787 Dreamliner, similar to the one involved in last week’s tragic accident, was compelled to undertake an emergency landing in 2023 following an in-flight engine malfunction. The incident raises concerns about aviation safety standards and Air India maintenance practices.
Air India Jet’s Emergency Landing Echoes Recent Tragedy
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was compelled to return to its origin a mere hour into its scheduled 14-hour journey between Mumbai and London two years prior, as stated by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
- Date of Incident: August 2023
- Flight Path: Mumbai to London
- Duration Before Turnaround: 1 hour
‘Loud Thud’ Preceded Engine Failure
In August 2023, pilots operating the aircraft reported detecting a ‘loud thud’ just moments before the left engine experienced a loss of power, attributed to deficient upkeep.
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Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the lone survivor of the accident on the previous Thursday, also recalled hearing a ‘loud noise’ in close proximity before Air India flight AI171 crashed. His designated seat, 11A, was situated in proximity to the Boeing’s left engine.
Faulty Turbine Blade Led to 2023 Incident
Investigators probing the 2023 engine incident determined that the Boeing’s left-side engine, supplied by General Electric, encountered a critical failure arising from a turbine blade that was erroneously bolted and subsequently dislodged.
Their investigation concluded that the ‘detachment’ of a high-pressure compressor blade ‘stemmed from incorrect fitting of locking lugs in HPC Stage 10’.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was forced to turn back an hour into its 14-hour flight two years ago. Pictured: An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Chunks of the Air India fuselage and tail were seen protruding from a demolished building
The sole survivor Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, was visited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in hospital, seen here
Understaffing Concerns at Aviation Regulatory Bodies
It was discovered that the DGCA had a staffing level of less than fifty percent, prompting Indian parliamentarians to voice ‘fundamental concerns’ three months earlier.
A report issued by the Indian parliament’s transport committee revealed that of the 1,633 designated positions, only 754 were occupied, resulting in 879 unfilled vacancies.
The report stated: ‘The committee acknowledges, with considerable apprehension, the substantial number of vacant positions across pivotal aviation regulatory and operational entities, notably within the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, and the Airports Authority of India.’
It elaborated, ‘The DGCA, responsible for ensuring aviation safety and regulatory monitoring, exhibits a vacancy rate exceeding 53 percent, thereby raising significant apprehensions regarding its capacity to efficiently enforce aviation safety protocols.’
Additionally, it noted that approximately 35 percent of posts remained unoccupied at the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security – which is tasked with safeguarding aviation security – and this circumstance was ‘posing risks to the integrity of safety monitoring at airports’.
Concerns were further articulated by the Airports Authority of India, responsible for managing essential airport infrastructure and air traffic services, indicating that unfilled job vacancies were adversely impacting operational efficiency and airport development.
A spokesperson conveyed: ‘The committee harbors profound concern that persistent understaffing within these institutions may undermine safety, security, and service provision standards, especially given the sustained growth in air traffic volumes.’
‘The committee implores the Ministry of Civil Aviation to expedite the hiring procedure with the aim of filling vacancies across the DGCA, BCAS, and AAI, to guarantee that regulatory oversight, safety enforcement, and airport functionalities are not jeopardized.’
Increased Inspections Ordered After Air India Crash
Last Friday, the DGCA served notice to Air India, mandating enhanced inspections across its entire fleet of 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft utilizing GE engines.
This encompassed an assessment of the fuel monitoring systems, an evaluation of the electronic engine management, a review of the hydraulics, and an appraisal of take-off parameters.
Moreover, there exists an obligation to conduct ‘power assurance checks’ on each airliner within a fortnight’s duration.