In brief
The recent crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner has now brought attention to a series of previous technical failures, including an inflight fire. Campaigners have provided evidence of these failures to the US Senate, questioning the aircraft's safety record. The plane's history reveals repeated system malfunctions since its entry into service, leading to controversies over Boeing's safety practices and raising alarms over the future of the Dreamliner series.
Aviation safety campaigners in the United States say they have evidence a plane that crashed in India last year had previously suffered a series of technical failures, including an in-flight fire.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed on June 12, shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad en route to London, killing 260 people.
The Foundation for Aviation Safety, a US campaign group, has sent a presentation to the US Senate outlining its findings, based on documents in its possession.
Currently, the official investigation into the accident is ongoing. An interim report published in July stirred up speculation and controversy, with Boeing declining to comment.
The aircraft involved, registered as VT-ANB, was one of the early 787 models, having first flown in late 2013 and entered service with Air India in early 2014.
Documents show the aircraft experienced system failures from day one, attributed to various engineering, manufacturing, quality, and maintenance issues.
Failures included electronics faults, tripped circuit breakers, wiring damage, short circuits, and overheating components.
The Foundation notes a significant incident in January 2022, where a fire occurred in the power distribution panel, prompting concern over the aircraft’s reliance on electrical systems.
In light of these events, the Foundation's report has been forwarded to the US Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, following a prior inquiry into Boeing's safety culture.
The ongoing investigation is being led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, with support from American officials.
A portion of a preliminary report has generated controversy, suggesting that issues surrounding the pilots’ actions may have led to the crash, which some experts say detracts from potential technical failures that could also be to blame.
The Foundation for Aviation Safety, led by former Boeing manager Ed Pierson, asserts that concerns about the 787 Dreamliner extend beyond the incident in India and reports presents a troubling trend in safety issues across different aircraft.
