Air India crash: List of Boeing controversies lengthens

The deadly crash of an Air India Dreamliner near Ahmedabad on Wednesday has reignited global concerns over the safety standards and manufacturing practices of American aerospace major Boeing. The incident, which killed at least 241 people onboard and 28 on the ground, is the first fatal crash involving the Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its introduction more than a decade ago.

Flight AI-171, bound for London with 232 passengers and 10 crew members, went down shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Authorities are yet to confirm the cause, but early reports point to possible structural failure. Sources in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said black box data will be crucial to the investigation, which is being conducted jointly with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Growing Scrutiny

The crash comes amid growing scrutiny of Boeing’s aircraft across the world. In January this year, a door panel on a brand-new Boeing 737 Max 9 detached midair during an Alaska Airlines flight, forcing the FAA to ground over 170 aircraft and launch an emergency audit. Investigations revealed that key bolts were missing during the jet’s final assembly—a serious lapse attributed to Boeing’s Renton factory in the U.S.

The American manufacturer is also facing legal and reputational fallout from two earlier disasters involving its 737 Max model in 2018 and 2019, which led to 346 fatalities worldwide. While Boeing paid a $2.5 billion settlement in 2021, fresh charges were filed earlier this year, prompting another $1.1 billion deal with U.S. authorities to avoid prosecution—raising fresh questions about accountability.

Closer home, aviation experts have expressed concern about the safety oversight of foreign-made aircraft. “It is time India reviews its dependency on Boeing platforms and conducts independent airworthiness reviews,” said Capt. G.R. Naidu, a retired airline safety officer, to media.

Boeing’s newer 777X programme has also suffered delays due to structural faults, and its Starliner spacecraft, developed for NASA, recently encountered technical failures that forced astronauts to return aboard a SpaceX vehicle.

The Indian aviation sector, which is witnessing a boom in passenger traffic and aircraft orders, is particularly exposed. Both Air India and Akasa Air have significant orders placed with Boeing, including for 737 Max and 787 models. With safety now under the spotlight, analysts expect regulatory delays, enhanced inspections, and possible revisions to upcoming deliveries.

Boeing has expressed condolences to the victims’ families and says it is cooperating with Indian and international authorities. The crash is likely to dominate discussions at the upcoming Paris Air Show, where Boeing was expected to announce fresh orders and showcase its next-generation fleet.

For now, questions linger—not just about one aircraft, but about a company once synonymous with safety.