A deadly crash involving an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner has renewed global concerns over airline safety and Boeing’s track record. The flight, headed to London from Ahmedabad, went down shortly after takeoff on Thursday with 242 people aboard. There was one survivor.
It marks the first fatal crash involving a Dreamliner since the aircraft’s debut, putting both Air India and Boeing under the microscope.
Former safety officials and aviation experts say the incident is a major setback for the manufacturer, which has been dealing with quality control issues for years.
“[The Dreamliner] never had a crash that involved fatalities,” said Miles O’Brien, an aviation expert. “And it is a highly automated aircraft.”
Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers are pressing for tougher oversight, with FAA nominee Bryan Bedford pledging to hold Boeing accountable as summer comes up.
