India & Japan Order Safety Inspections On Boeing 787 Fleets After Tragic Crash
India and Japan have reportedly ordered safety inspections of their Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleets. The news comes shortly after Air India’s tragic Boeing 787 crash, which claimed all lives except one.
Air India
- IATA/ICAO Code
- AI/AIC
- Airline Type
- Full Service Carrier
- Year Founded
- 1946
On June 13, 2025, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directed airlines operating Boeing 787 aircraft to inspect their fleets. Meanwhile, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has instructed All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan Airlines, and their low-cost airline subsidiaries, AirJapan and ZipAir, to inspect both the engines and airframes of their 787 aircraft, according to Japan’s news agency Kyodo News.
Extent Of 787 Fleet Inspections
Photo: Thiago B Trevisan | Shutterstock
The combined fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners in India and Japan totals 176 aircraft, according to Simple Flying estimates based on ch-aviation fleets data. Air India is the sole operator of the 787 in India, flying both the 787-8 and 787-9 variants. It is worth noting that Vistara, which recently merged with the Indian flag carrier, previously operated Boeing 787s. Following the merger, those aircraft have been transferred to Air India’s fleet. Meanwhile, IndiGo, India’s largest low-cost airline, does not own any 787s but operates one aircraft on a wet-lease basis.
Airline | The Number Of Boeing 787s |
|---|---|
Air India |
|
IndiGo |
|
All Nippon Airways (ANA) |
|
ZipAir |
|
Japan Airlines |
|
AirJapan |
|
In contrast, Japan has four airlines operating the type, including ANA, Japan Airlines, ZipAir, and AirJapan, with a total of 142 aircraft. Commenting on the news, transport minister Hiromasa Nakano said at a press conference seen by Kyodo News:
"We will take necessary measures by collecting information and considering the development of investigations.”
Looking Into Engines, Flaps, And Landing Gear
Photo: hodim | Shutterstock
On June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, registered as VT-ANB and operating flight AI 171 to London Gatwick Airport (LGW), crashed less than 60 seconds after takeoff. A total of 241 people on board were killed, while one British man survived the tragic event. The widebody aircraft crashed into a residential building, resulting in additional fatalities on the ground.
The investigation into the Air India crash is focusing on engine thrust, flap settings, and why the landing gear was not retracted after takeoff, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters. While the investigators are looking into the cause of the accident, the preliminary conclusion typically comes months after the start of the investigation. India’s aviation authorities have confirmed the recovery of a black box at the crash site.
According to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) retrieved the flight data recorder within 28 hours of the accident. Commercial aircraft are typically equipped with two black boxes. One records technical flight data, such as altitude and airspeed, while the other captures cockpit audio, allowing investigators to analyze pilot conversations and detect any abnormal sounds during the flight.
The aircraft involved was one of the airline's 27 Boeing 787-8s and among the earliest Dreamliners delivered to the airline.
No US Grounding Planned For Boeing 787 Dreamliners
Photo: Thor Jorgen Udvang | Shutterstock
Officials in the United States said that current safety data does not indicate any immediate need to ground Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft following the Air India crash.
Speaking at a press conference on June 12, 2025, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Acting Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Chris Rocheleau stated that they had reviewed footage of the air crash in India but found no evidence warranting the suspension of Boeing 787 operations.
