Crash and burn

• The first hull loss of the ‘Dreamliner’, a twin-aisle aircraft, has raised global concerns.

• Air India flight AI171, which ended tragically on June 12, has been under global scrutiny.

• The cause of the crash is under speculation, with experts suggesting issues with load planning, engine performance, wing surface settings, and bird hits.

• The 787-8, a plane with ample avionics redundancy and reliable twin engines, has a strong global safety record.

• Concerns have been raised about assembly-line quality control, ‘whistle-blower’ statements, engine icing problems, lithium aerospace battery-related electrical system issues, an emergency locator transmitter battery fire, and an in-flight upset linked to a feature in the flight deck crew seat.

• The new owner, Tata Sons, is executing Vihaan.AI, the airline’s ‘transformational roadmap over five years’.

• The airline is also under scrutiny by India’s civil aviation regulatory body, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

• A formal investigation, including international participation, has been initiated to address the complexities of a first-time 787 crash analysis.