"Dreamliners to fly only after DGCA, FAA clearance "
New Delhi, Jan 17 (IBNS)
Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh on Thursday said Air India will operate Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft only after Indian aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) give clearance to operate them.
Speaking to media, Singh said: "I directed the DGCA to ground the airlines and look into the problems. We will not fly the Dreamliners until the FAA and our own DGCA give clearance."
He said: "How long it will take? How serious is the problem? We will all come to know in a couple of days."
Air India on Thursday grounded all its six Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
Reports quoting the Indian aviation regulator said the decision came after the US Federal Aviation Administration and Japan also grounded the aircraft.
Two more Boeing 787 aircraft, which were scheduled to be delivered to India at the end of the financial year, are also on hold.
On Wednesday, Japan grounded 24 Dreamliners owned by two of its airlines - ANA (All Nippon Airways) and Japan Airlines following some technical problems.
However, Boeing on Wednesday insisted its 787 Dreamliner was safe.
"We are confident the 787 is safe and we stand behind its overall integrity," Boeing CEO Jim McNerney said in a statement.
"We will be taking every necessary step in the coming days to assure our customers and the travelling public of the 787's safety and to return the airplanes to service," he added.