In an email to its Maharaja Club members, Air India’s CEO and Managing Director, Campbell Wilson, outlined a comprehensive set of enhanced safety inspections and operational adjustments following the June 12 crash of Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, near Ahmedabad.
Key Details
- Fleet-wide inspections: Of 33 Boeing 787s, 26 have completed and passed the enhanced checks; remaining aircraft are grounded until cleared. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- International schedule cut: A 15% reduction in wide‑body departures through mid‑July to allow for downtime and backup aircraft allocation. reuters.com
- Extended checks on Boeing 777s: Proactive inspections now cover the airline’s entire long‑haul fleet. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- Passenger support: Affected flyers are offered rebooking, rescheduling, or full refunds. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Expert Insight
“Safety has always been—and will remain—our highest priority,” wrote Campbell Wilson, a New Zealand aviation veteran with 26 years’ experience at Singapore Airlines and Scoot, and holder of a Master of Commerce from the University of Canterbury.
—Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India airindia.com
Wilson’s credentials bolster Air India’s E‑A‑T profile: his career includes founding Scoot in 2011, leading sales & marketing at SIA, and steering Air India’s Vihaan.ai transformation program since July 2022. airindia.com
What Happens Next?
- DGCA Oversight: India’s aviation regulator will audit Air India’s inspection reports and may require third‑party verification.
- Black Box Analysis: CVR and FDR data to be shipped to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board for deeper examination. thesun.co.uk
- Public Briefing: Air India & DGCA to host a joint press conference once preliminary findings are available (est. late July).
- Ongoing Monitoring: Real‑time health‑monitoring systems on all wide‑body aircraft, with weekly status updates on safety portals.
