A US aviation safety group has revealed that the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner involved in last year’s crash had a history of technical problems. The aircraft went down on 12 June, shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad to London, killing all 260 people on board.
The Foundation for Aviation Safety claims it has obtained documents showing repeated system failures during the aircraft’s service. The group shared its findings with the US Senate, suggesting the plane had persistent safety concerns.
The official investigation is ongoing, but an interim report published in July raised questions about the plane’s condition and sparked public debate. Boeing has not commented on the claims.
Registered as VT-ANB, the aircraft was among the first Boeing 787 Dreamliners built. It first flew in late 2013 and entered Air India service in early 2014. According to the safety group, the plane experienced malfunctions from the start, caused by engineering, manufacturing, maintenance, and quality control problems.
Reported issues included software and electronics faults, repeated circuit breaker trips, damaged wiring, short circuits, loss of electrical current, and overheating in power system components. The campaigners also mentioned a previous in-flight fire, highlighting serious safety risks.
These findings have intensified concerns over aircraft safety, particularly for early-production Dreamliners. Experts stress the importance of thorough maintenance and monitoring, especially for planes with a history of technical failures.
