Following the crash of an Air India plane in Ahmedabad in June, the American aerospace company Boeing has been under the lens. Fresh concerns have emerged over Boeing’s safety protocols and aircraft reliability. In a latest such critique, Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora raised questions over Boeing’s quality assurance practices. “Air India in Ahmedabad. Jeju Air in Korea. Both recent crashes. Add to that Lion Air (2018) & Ethiopian Airlines (2019). All Boeing aircraft,” he posted on X.
Deora called for international scrutiny into Boeing’s production and maintenance standards. “Bird hits may play a role, but instead of repeatedly blaming human error, it’s time Boeing’s decline faced global scrutiny,” he further said.
In a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu after the June 12 crash, Deora had urged the ministry to adopt a comprehensive, long-term strategy to enhance aviation safety. “Having interacted with aviation professionals over the years, I have come to appreciate the immense pressures they face- from long, irregular hours to demanding schedules that often stretch physical and mental limits. These pressures can accumulate silently, even among the most competent and well-trained professionals,” he wrote.
Growing concerns with Boeing 787 Dreamliners
The Ahmedabad incident triggered a rapid response from the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which initially considered grounding all Boeing 787 Dreamliners. However, the regulator eventually opted for enhanced inspections across the 787 fleet in India.
Despite growing scrutiny, the Boeing 787 series remains critical to global air travel. As of April 2025, Boeing reported that over 1,100 Dreamliners are in operation, carrying more than a billion passengers, operating 2,100 flights daily and clocking 30 million flight hours globally.
Not a first for Boeing
Notably, this isn’t the first time the Dreamliner has come under fire. In 2013, the entire 787 fleet was grounded due to battery overheating issues. The aircraft returned to service only after a detailed investigation and critical equipment replacements.
The latest plane crash in Ahmedabad, deadliest aviation accident in a decade, resulted in over 260 deaths. Earlier this month, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released a preliminary probe report. The initial results could not draw a full picture of the crash but did provide some clarity on the series of events. The complete is expected to be released in the coming months.
