GE Expands Global Investigation as DGCA Informs Central Information Commission
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The safety and operational integrity of commercial aviation fleets have once again taken center stage following significant updates regarding a serious mid-air engine failure involving an Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has formally briefed the Central Information Commission (CIC), revealing that engine manufacturer GE Aerospace has significantly broadened the scope of its global investigation into the affected powerplants following a dramatic in-flight emergency that occurred in August 2023.
Unveiling the 2023 Incident and the RTI Disclosures
The vital information regarding the ongoing regulatory actions and investigative updates came to light through a Right to Information (RTI) application filed before the CIC. The applicant had sought detailed accountability and transparency concerning the corrective measures taken by the DGCA following the final investigation report into a frightening unprompted shutdown of engine number 1 on Air India Boeing B787-8 aircraft bearing registration VT-ANV.
The incident took place on August 4, 2023, in Mumbai, involving Air India flight AI-131 operating en route from Mumbai to London's Heathrow Airport with 267 passengers and crew members on board. During takeoff, the aircraft experienced a sudden engine malfunction that resulted in a shutdown mid-flight. Quick-thinking flight crew managed to turn the aircraft around, executing a safe single-engine landing back in Mumbai with zero injuries reported. Official technical findings later confirmed that the engine's high-pressure compressor (HPC) stage-10 blades suffered critical damage due to the improper installation of 'locking lugs', which directly triggered the catastrophic failure.
GE Aerospace Expands Boroscope Inspections and Service Bulletin
Addressing the queries raised in the RTI, the DGCA informed the Commission that once the final mishap investigation report was formally accepted, it was immediately forwarded to the Airworthiness Directorate for mandatory safety follow-ups. In response to the mechanical failure, engine manufacturer GE Aerospace issued Service Bulletin SB 72-0543 on December 21, 2023.
This critical bulletin mandated an expanded scope for boroscope inspections—a specialized non-destructive testing technique used to examine inaccessible internal components of machinery with microscopic precision—across a wider range of engines by including additional serial numbers. The DGCA confirmed that the Airworthiness Directorate verified the completion of these mandatory corrective action recommendations by the airline, though official media queries sent to both GE Aerospace and Air India regarding the incident have remained unanswered.
Central Information Commission Directs Compliance and Transparency
The case made its way to the highest transparency watchdog because the DGCA's Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) initially dismissed parts of the RTI request, arguing that the final investigation report was already publicly accessible on the regulator's website while refusing to disclose specific departmental action logs.
The appellant argued that the matter involved severe public safety implications concerning commercial fleet operations. Upholding the necessity of transparency, the CIC noted that the applicant had sought specific details regarding administrative actions taken, rather than just the accident report itself. While expressing satisfaction with the detailed written submissions provided by the DGCA regarding actions recorded on file, the Commission directed the aviation regulator to furnish a complete copy of its written response to the applicant and submit a formal compliance report, ensuring absolute accountability in civil aviation safety.
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