Air India Chairman Confirms Engine Details of Crashed AI171 Flight

The crash of Air India's AI171 has raised serious questions regarding aviation safety and the airline's future.

The chairman of Air India, N Chandrasekaran, disclosed that one engine of the ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was newly installed just months prior to the crash, while the other was recently serviced and not due for routine maintenance until December 2025. This revelation comes amidst ongoing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the plane crash that resulted in the deaths of at least 270 individuals shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday.

In an interview with a news channel, Chandrasekaran emphasized the aircraft's "clean" history stating, "The right engine was a new engine put in March 2025. The left engine was last serviced in 2023 and due for its next maintenance check in December 2025." Investigators are currently examining debris and analyzing flight data and cockpit audio retrieved from the black boxes.

Experts caution against speculation as further assessment is needed to understand what transpired during the flight. Former investigator Kishore Chinta explained, "The age of the engine has no bearing on the health of the engine, especially for the Genx-1B engines," used in the Boeing 787-8. Unlike older engines, these are monitored continuously by a high-tech system that determines the need for service or replacement based on performance data.

However, the investigation will need to look at specific components known as Life Limited Parts (LLPs) that maintain a fixed lifespan based on operational cycles. Each engine start counts as one cycle, presenting additional factors to consider.

As the investigation continues, Air India responded by announcing a 15% reduction in its international operations on wide-body aircraft until mid-July, citing precautionary measures following the crash. The airline also reported that inspections on 26 of its 33 Boeing 787 aircraft have been completed and certified for service, with further examinations planned for the remaining fleet.

Air India's chairman underscores the need for restraint in drawing conclusions until the black box data is fully analyzed, saying, "We just have to wait for that." The fallout from this incident could jeopardize Air India's plans for transformation from a state-run entity to a privately owned airline under Tata Sons, which acquired the company in 2022.

The aviation industry, as well as the broader public, awaits the outcome of the investigations to glean lessons that might enhance safety measures in the future.