DGCA Informs CIC That GE Aerospace Expanded Inspections Following 2023 Air India B787 Engine Incident

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has stated that engine manufacturer GE Aerospace expanded borescope inspection requirements following a 2023 in-flight engine shutdown on an Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft. The information was disclosed to the Central Information Commission (CIC) in an RTI case examining the regulatory actions taken after the final investigation report.

The case stems from an uncommanded shutdown of Engine No. 1 on Air India's Boeing B787-8 aircraft registered as VT-ANW, which occurred in Mumbai on August 4, 2023. The flight, designated as AI-131 from Mumbai to London's Heathrow Airport with 267 people on board, experienced an engine surge followed by a shutdown during the climb. The aircraft returned to Mumbai and completed an overweight landing on a single engine without any injuries.

According to the final investigation report, the incident was caused by the release of an HPC Stage-10 blade due to the improper installation of locking lugs in 2018, which led to the engine surge and subsequent shutdown. An applicant subsequently filed an RTI query to determine whether regulatory action was initiated against Air India and whether safety checks were ordered for the B787-8 fleet.

In its submissions to the CIC, the DGCA stated that after accepting the final investigation report, it forwarded the document to the Directorate of Airworthiness for necessary action. The regulator noted that GE Aerospace issued service bulletin SB 72-0543 on December 21, 2023, which expanded borescope inspection requirements for affected engines and included additional engine serial numbers. The DGCA confirmed that compliance with the bulletin was completed within the prescribed timeline, and the Directorate of Airworthiness treated the corrective action as duly complied with.

The CIC proceeding was initiated after the DGCA's central public information officer initially denied parts of the information under section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act, directing the applicant to the investigation report already available on the website. The applicant argued that the matter held public importance due to subsequent incidents involving similar aircraft, such as the 2025 Air India AI-171 incident in Ahmedabad. The commission noted that the applicant had requested details on action taken rather than just the report contents, but ultimately expressed satisfaction that the DGCA had furnished the available action-taken records. The CIC directed the regulator to provide a copy of its written submissions to the applicant and submit a compliance report.

Queries sent to GE Aerospace and Air India regarding the matter remained unanswered.

"This regulatory disclosure underscores the critical importance of rigorous post-incident compliance and transparent communication in the aviation sector. When technical failures occur due to legacy maintenance issues, swift manufacturer directives and strict regulatory oversight are essential to restore operational integrity and maintain public trust. For businesses operating in high-compliance industries, proactive adherence to safety directives and maintaining clear audit trails are non-negotiable operational priorities." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes