October 11, 2025

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has fired a strong warning shot! In a recent letter to Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, the pilots asked for something big — to ground all Boeing 787 Dreamliners operated by Air India immediately. The reason? Several alarming technical issues that could risk passenger safety. The FIP letter painted a serious picture. It referred to two recent incidents with the Dreamliners. First, Air India flight 117 saw the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) activate during its approach to Birmingham on October 4, a rare emergency measure. Then, on October 9, flight AI-154 from Vienna to Delhi experienced multiple malfunctions mid-air and had to divert to Dubai. Why this sudden demand? The letter came just months after the tragic crash of Air India flight 171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, which sadly killed 241 passengers and 19 people on the ground. "After the crash of AI-171, there have been many failures on the Air India aircraft," the letter boldly states. It also claims air travel safety is being "compromised" because the technical failures on these Boeing 787s are not properly investigated. The pilots' body called for thorough checks, especially on the electrical systems of all Dreamliners in India. They also demanded a special audit of Air India, led by senior officials from the Flight Safety Directorate (FSD), Air Safety, and Airworthiness of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Safety first, say the pilots! They want these planes grounded until experts can confirm they’re safe to fly. The letter also urged for investigations into the two recent glitches that put passengers at risk. With Air India flying thousands every day, this call for grounding and strict audits is a wake-up call for India's aviation industry. Will the government heed the pilots’ urgent plea? Time will tell. For real-time news on safety, politics, and more in India, keep watching Hindustan Times.

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Tags: Boeing 787 dreamliner, Air india, Pilot safety, Aircraft grounding, Aviation safety, Dgca audit,