Pilot Association Urges Suspension of Air India’s Dreamliner Flights
Following two recent technical incidents involving Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation to temporarily ground the entire Dreamliner fleet until a comprehensive inspection of its electrical systems is completed.
In its communication to the ministry, the FIP cited growing safety concerns, emphasizing the need for a thorough audit of the aircraft’s electrical and operational control systems. The association requested the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to conduct an independent safety review before allowing further operations.
According to sources, one of the recent incidents occurred during flight AI-154, when the autothrottle system malfunctioned, leading to a technical snag that forced the aircraft to execute a controlled landing at Dubai Airport. In another case involving flight AI-117, a similar issue was reported midair, prompting the association to call for deeper scrutiny into the Dreamliner’s systems.
Captain C.S. Randhawa, President of the FIP, stated that both events underscore the urgency of evaluating the safety standards of Air India’s wide-body fleet. The union has also called on Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to ensure a transparent investigation.
Air India, in response, clarified that initial findings from its internal probe suggested that the autothrottle malfunction may have been linked to an open Radio Altimeter (RAT) command and was not the result of pilot error. The airline asserted that it continues to maintain its aircraft in strict adherence to international safety standards and that all Dreamliner flights are operating safely under continuous technical monitoring.
The DGCA has yet to issue a formal directive but has reportedly initiated a special technical audit into the matter. Experts in aviation safety have noted that while modern aircraft are equipped with multiple redundancies, any malfunction involving flight control or electrical systems must be examined with utmost seriousness to ensure passenger safety.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner forms a crucial part of Air India’s international operations, connecting India to Europe, North America, and the Middle East. A prolonged grounding of the fleet could significantly impact the airline’s long-haul schedules.
The outcome of the DGCA’s investigation will be closely watched by industry observers and global aviation regulators, as it could influence future oversight standards for India’s rapidly expanding civil aviation sector.
