Boeing may compensate Air India for grounded 787 Dreamliners: Ajit Singh

Aviation minister Ajit Singh told reporters today that Boeing Co was likely to compensate state-run Air India for grounding of 787 Dreamliner passenger jets on safety issues.

Earlier, following an emergency landing by a Boeing 787 aircraft in western Japan on Wednesday, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways had grounded their entire fleet for inspection. (See: JAL, ANA ground Dreamliners following fresh incident) 

The aircraft made mainly from lightweight, carbon-composite material has been plagued by mishaps and concerns have also been raised over its use of lithium-ion batteries. Many airlines across the globe have now grounded the aircraft.

Earlier, LOT Airlines of Poland said it would seek compensation from Boeing for grounding its two planes.

Meanwhile, an editorial in The Hindu says it was only following the US aviation regulator ordering the grounding of all Boeing 787 Dreamliners that India reacted to the spate of safety issues that had arisen about the aircraft in recent weeks.

The editorial goes on to say that such safety issues were not new to either Boeing or any other manufacturer, especially during a new aircraft's initial phase of operation and cites the example of 777, which also went through many teething problems before it could establish itself as a reliable long-range option.