After coming close to grounding the Boeing 787 in India, India’s  Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) took a more measured approach for Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet, calling for an inspection of the fleet. Here are the details.

India’s DGCA requires enhanced checks on Air India’s Boeing 787 aircraft

The Indian regulator, the DGCA, took a measured stance and have notified that new checks, largely focussed on the engines of the aircraft.

In light of the AI-171 accident on 12.06.2025, DGCA issues directives to Air India to carry out additional maintenance actions on B787-8/9 aircraft equipped with Genx engines with immediate effect.@RamMNK @mohol_murlidhar @dgca pic.twitter.com/L8YCJ1FVVT

— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) June 13, 2025

As of June 15, 2025, Indian regulators have asked of Air India to inspect all their Boeing 787 aircraft (the -8s from the legacy AI fleet and the -9s from the Vistara acquisition), prior to their departure from an Indian airport. The checks will focus on:

• Inspection of Fuel Parameter Monitoring and associated system checks.
• Inspection of Cabin air compressor and associated systems.
• Electronic Engine Control- System Test.
• Engine Fuel Driven Actuator-Operational Test and oil system check.
• Serviceability check of Hydraulic system.
• Review of Take-off parameters.

We’ll also see a flight control inspection be introduced in transit inspections until further notice.

Air India has also been asked to conduct power assurance checks within two weeks, and close out maintenance action based upon the review of repetitive snags during the last 15 days on B787-8/9 aircraft at the earliest.

Air India confirms the checks being made. The Indian Minister for Civil Aviation held a press conference earlier today, on June 14, 2025, where he confirmed that 8 aircraft were already inspected. Campbell Wilson, in his daily brief of the crash, confirmed that 9 aircraft were completed.

https://twitter.com/airindia/status/1933867179868647619/video/1

This requirement does not apply to IndiGo, which wet leases their 787 (sole) from Norse Atlantic Airways, for now.

This seems like a measured approach

At least one news entity reported on June 13, 2025 about the expected grounding of the Boeing 787 fleet of Air India. This would have set off a chain reaction, which would have not just caused schedule and financial impact on Air India beyond what they are already on the line for, but also might have been looked at by other regulators as the green signal to ground the aircraft in their own territories.

The whole episode, with it being the first hull loss for the 787 programme, would have also impacted the sales pipeline of the 787 aircraft, which currently has seen over 1,180 aircraft deliveries. Boeing, of course, has already seen its reputition tarnished with the 737 MAX crashes, and the 787 programme also saw Li-Ion issues in the initial days of the programme. This should be a relief, of sorts.

Air India warns of schedule unreliability

Air India confirmed that it will undergo the checks and is in the process of going through the same. 9 aircraft already done, and 24 to be done. However, it did mention that “some of these checks could lead to higher turnaround time and potential delays on certain long-haul routes especially those to airports with operating curfews. Customers will be duly notified about any delays.” So do keep an eye if you are on a 787-8 flight in the coming days.

#ImportantUpdate
Air India is in the process of completing the one-time safety checks directed by the Indian aviation regulator, DGCA. These checks are being carried out on the Boeing 787 fleet as they return to India, before being cleared for their next operations. Air India has…

— Air India (@airindia) June 14, 2025

Bottomline

The Indian DGCA has instituted an inspection of all Air India Boeing 787 aircraft, both one-time and ongoing before each departure from India. Air India has confirmed that it is in the process of complying with the directive and the one-time checks are already underway, while the ongoing checks will come online from tomorrow. Also, the airline has warned of delays due to these one-time checks, and will offer assistance if the flights are affected.

What do you think of the DGCA requiring inspection of all Air India 787 aircraft?

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