Air India plane crash: Turkey denies Dreamliner maintenance hyperlink; issues clarification

NEW DELHI: Soon after the Air India passenger plane crash, the Türkiye authorities issued a press release to debunk claims circulating concerning the maintenance of the plane concerned. Some claims had urged that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which crashed throughout take-off, had undergone maintenance by Turkish Technic, a number one aviation maintenance firm primarily based in Türkiye. “The claim that “The maintenance of the Boeing 787-8 type passenger plane was carried out by Turkish Technic”, made after an Air India passenger plane crashed during take-off, is not true,” mentioned the Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications Center for Countering Disinformation in a put up on X.According to the official assertion, the agreements between Air India and Turkish Technic, set for 2024 and 2025, particularly cowl maintenance companies for B777-type wide-body plane solely. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner concerned within the incident shouldn’t be included in these agreements. “To date, Turkish Technic has not conducted maintenance on any Air India aircraft of this type,” the assertion additional mentioned.The clarification comes as authorities proceed to analyze the reason for the crash, which has raised considerations about plane security and maintenance protocols. The Türkiye authorities and Turkish Technic have reiterated their dedication to transparency and cooperation with worldwide aviation our bodies to make sure the very best requirements of security and maintenance within the aviation trade. This comes amid the backdrop of tense ties with Turkey ties after it spoke out in assist of Pakistan when India launched Operation Sindoor focusing on terror infrastructure in its neighbouring nation.Following the anti-India stance, a number of companies introduced severing ties with Turkish companies. Air India additionally introduced plans, earlier this month, to cut back its reliance on Turkish Technic for sustaining its wide-body plane. The airline will redirect operations to different Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services, CEO Campbell Wilson mentioned. This strategic shift goals to optimize maintenance processes and improve operational effectivity. Turkish Technic presently conducts heavy maintenance for a portion of Air India’s Boeing 777 and 787 fleet.