He suggested that 2025 should be seen as “our turnaround year”.
The disaster is the first fatal accident involving the Boeing 787 and initial findings as to its cause – currently the subject of unproven speculation ranging from a catastrophic bird strike to possible overloading – will take several days to emerge. The definitive cause of the tragedy is likely to take months to establish.
The company saw its share price fall by as much as eight per cent in the aftermath of the crash. In a statement, Boeing said: “We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them.”
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Read MoreMore recently the company suffered another high-profile lapse when a poorly-secured panel in a 737 Max 9 jet operated by Alaska Airlines blew out in mid-air, causing a rapid decompression and injuries to a number of passengers.
A US-based aviation consultant, who works closely with Boeing, told The i Paper that the latest disaster to befall one of its aircraft will be regarded as a bitter blow even though some 53 per cent of air disasters are put down to pilot error, with mechanical failings accounting for 21 per cent of crashes.
“Statistically, it is highly unlikely that what happened in Ahmedabad will be found to be a design flaw with the 787. But what will worry any aircraft manufacturer most is any perception that their product is unsafe. Boeing will likely have to redouble its efforts in this regard.”
Barely a month ago, Boeing announced that the global fleet of 1,175 Dreamliners had carried more than a billion passengers and completed nearly five million flights in less than 14 years of service – making the aircraft the fastest widebody commercial jet to reach such milestones in history.
And yet, the model and its manufacturer have faced a number of questions about reliability and build quality. In its second year of service a series of fires caused by faulty lithium-ion batteries on the jets resulted in the global 787 fleet being grounded – the first such suspension of operations for an entire model since 1979.
Boeing said it was “fully confident” in the model and was carrying out its own comprehensive regime of testing which showed there was “no immediate flight safety issue”.
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Read MoreMore broadly, the aviation industry is at pains to underline that catastrophic crashes such as the fate of AI171 are extraordinarily rare. Figures produced by industry body IATA showed there were seven fatal accidents in 2024 out of 40.6 million flights, leading to the deaths of 244 people.
The 787 represents a number of innovations in aircraft manufacturing, including the use of composite materials such a fibreglass to make the plane significantly lighter than previous generations of passenger jets. When paired with ultra-efficient engines, the 787 uses about 20 per cent less fuel than its predecessors – a vital and attractive saving for airlines.
And yet, on another level the Boeing 787 has been a dramatic success for a troubled yet enduringly iconic brand.
The company’s big rival, Airbus, instead opted for the hub model and built the A380 – the double-decker jet which hastened the demise of the Boeing 747.
The aviation consultant said: “The fact is that the Dreamliner has been one of the most, if not the most, successful jet that Boeing ever produced.”
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