Following the tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, the Turkish government has firmly rejected claims linking Turkish Technic, the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center of Turkish Airlines, to the aircraft's maintenance. The crash, which claimed the lives of 241 people onboard and dozens more on the ground, has triggered intense scrutiny and speculation regarding its cause.
In the wake of the disaster, allegations surfaced suggesting that Turkish Technic had been responsible for the maintenance of the ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. These claims were quickly refuted by Turkish officials, who described them as "false" and "disinformation" intended to tarnish Turkey's leading global brands and manipulate public opinion regarding Türkiye-India relations.
According to official sources in Turkiye, the maintenance agreements between Air India and Turkish Technic for 2024 and 2025 only encompass B777-type wide-body aircraft. The crashed Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner falls outside the scope of these agreements, and Turkish Technic has not provided maintenance services for any Air India aircraft of this type to date.
The Turkish government further clarified that while they are aware of the company that last maintained the aircraft, they would refrain from making public comments to avoid further speculation. The Directorate of Communications Center emphasized that the claim regarding Turkish Technic's involvement was disinformation aimed at manipulating public opinion regarding Türkiye-India relations
Meanwhile, investigations into the cause of the crash are underway, with multiple agencies involved in the probe. The black box of the aircraft has been recovered and is currently being decoded to ascertain the sequence of events leading to the tragedy.
Several theories have emerged regarding the potential causes of the crash, ranging from technical malfunction to pilot error. Aviation experts have suggested possibilities such as engine failure, issues with the plane's flaps, or a sudden loss of thrust. One theory even suggests that the co-pilot may have mistakenly retracted the flaps instead of the landing gear, leading to a stall. Preliminary evidence indicates the aircraft lost contact at approximately 625 feet altitude. Probable engine thrust failure has been identified as a primary cause, potentially triggered by bird ingestion, engine fire, mechanical shaft failure, or fuel system malfunction.
In the aftermath of the crash, Air India has initiated enhanced safety inspections for all Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft in its fleet. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also ramped up inspections of Boeing 787 jets.
Adding to the controversy, Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has alleged a possible "foreign conspiracy" behind the crash, hinting at the involvement of a Turkish agency whose contract with Indian airports was terminated last month. Ramdev's remarks have sparked further debate about the role of foreign companies in India's aviation sector. He stated that India must stop allowing foreign companies to interfere in sensitive matters.
The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash has raised serious concerns about aviation safety and maintenance protocols. The ongoing investigations are expected to shed light on the exact cause of the tragedy and identify any potential lapses in safety procedures.
