- NEW DELHI — The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, known for its advanced technology and
fuel efficiency, has reportedly faced several technical and safety issues
worldwide over the years.
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- On Thursday, one of these aircraft, operated by Air India
as flight AI 171, crashed shortly after takeoff. The plane, headed to London’s
Gatwick Airport, was carrying 242 people on board, including 10 crew members.
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- While the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is widely used for
long-haul international flights and is considered a modern and efficient
aircraft, it has had a history of safety concerns.
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- In 2013, the entire global fleet of Dreamliners was
grounded after incidents of lithium-ion battery fires, including one on a
parked Japan Airlines jet in Boston and another mid-air emergency in Japan.
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- These incidents led the US Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) to suspend Dreamliner operations until Boeing redesigned
the battery system.
Relatives of a victim of yesterday's Air India plane crash mourn outside a hospital, in Ahmedabad, Friday, June 13, 2025. A London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 passengers crashed moments after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday.
Read: Ahmedabad plane crash: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio expresses grief
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- In 2024, Boeing again came under scrutiny after
whistleblower Sam Salehpour, an engineer at the company, reportedly told the US
Senate about structural problems in the Dreamliner’s fuselage.
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- He claimed that small gaps and improper assembly could
cause early wear and possible structural failure. The FAA launched an
investigation, which is still ongoing.