Delhi – Air India has revealed that one of the engines on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed last week was newly installed, while the other was due for routine maintenance in December. The crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, killing at least 270 people, mostly passengers.
Chairman N Chandrasekaran told Indian media that both engines had clean service records. He said the right engine was fitted in March 2025, and the left engine’s last maintenance was in 2023, with the next check scheduled for December this year.
The investigation team is examining the plane’s black boxes to uncover the causes of the tragedy. Chandrasekaran cautioned against speculation, saying experts expect the flight data and cockpit voice recorders to provide clear answers.
A former investigator with India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, Kishore Chinta, explained that engine age does not always correlate with its condition, especially for the Genx-1B engines used on the 787. These engines are monitored continuously by a digital system called FADEC, which guides maintenance decisions. However, some engine parts have fixed lifespans based on usage cycles.
In response to the crash and ongoing safety reviews, Air India announced a 15% reduction in its wide-body international flights until mid-July. The airline also reported completing inspections on 26 of its 33 Boeing 787 aircraft, all cleared to fly, with checks on the remaining planes and the Boeing 777 fleet underway.
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