Air India has confirmed that one of the engines of its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which crashed last week killing at least 270 people, was new as of March 2025. The airline’s chairman, N Chandrasekaran, stated in an interview with Times Now channel that both engines had “clean” histories.
The left engine was serviced in 2023 and due for its next maintenance check in December 2025. Investigators are now analyzing debris, flight data, and cockpit audio to determine the cause of the incident.
Kishore Chinta, a former investigator, explained that the age of an engine is not directly linked to its health, particularly with the Genx-1B engines used on the Boeing 787-8. The engines have a system that continuously monitors performance and makes decisions based on data and physical inspections.
Air India has announced a 15% cut in international operations until mid-July as it deals with the aftermath of the crash. Inspections on its Boeing 787 fleet are ongoing, with 26 aircraft already cleared for service. The remaining planes will be examined in the coming days.
The crash’s impact on Air India’s transformation into a privately-owned company is also being assessed by experts, who warn that the incident could have significant consequences for the airline’s future.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyl636ynzvo