Air India crash: US officials say no immediate reason to ground Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Speaking at a news conference, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Acting Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Chris Rocheleau said they had seen video footage of the crash and were closely monitoring the situation.

Duffy said a joint team from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FAA, supported by Boeing and engine manufacturer GE Aerospace, was being dispatched to India.

“They have to get on the ground and take a look. But again, right now it’d be way too premature,” Duffy said. “People are looking at videos and trying to assess what happened, which is never a strong, smart way to make decisions on what took place.”

He said the FAA was working with Boeing and GE Aerospace to review all available information as part of the investigation into the crash.

The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight 171, crashed into a residential area near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad seconds after taking off at 1:38 pm local time on Wednesday. It is the first-ever crash involving a Boeing 787, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.

Boeing said it was aware of initial reports and was gathering more information. “We are aware of initial reports and are working to gather more information,” the company said in a brief statement.

In a separate statement, Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg said: “I have spoken with Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran to offer our full support, and a Boeing team stands ready to support the investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).” He added that Boeing would defer to the AAIB in accordance with international aviation protocols.

The Ahmedabad plane crash is the latest episode in the troubled history of Boeing in recent years.

Lion Air Flight 610 crashed into the Java Sea in October 2018, killing 189 people, while Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 went down in March 2019, claiming 157 lives.

Duffy stressed that the US government "will not hesitate to implement any safety recommendations that may arise. We will follow the facts and put safety first."

He added that the FAA was ready to send “additional resources to get the data we need to ensure the safety of the flying public.”