Air India 787 Crash Prompts New Safety Directives

After a deadly crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad that killed over 240 people, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) launched enhanced safety inspections of Air India's 787 fleet. DGCA inspections found no major safety issues, confirming compliance with maintenance standards, and 24 of 33 aircraft have completed required checks. At least 66 flights were canceled, with disruptions caused both by these inspections and by airspace closures. Regulators advised Air India to improve internal coordination, ensure spare parts availability, and prioritize passenger communication and facilitation. The DGCA called for real-time defect reporting, alternate routing strategies, and strict regulatory compliance to enhance operational robustness. Additional aircraft are slated for inspection as they return from maintenance.