Fact Check: One engine on crashed Air India plane was brand new.

Fact Check: "One engine on crashed Air India plane was brand new."

What We Know

Following the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, the airline's chairman, N Chandrasekaran, confirmed that one of the aircraft's engines was indeed new. He stated, "The right engine was a new engine put in March 2025. The left engine was last serviced in 2023 and due for its next maintenance check in December 2025" (BBC). This information was reiterated in multiple reports, including a statement from Air India that both engines had "clean" histories (Reuters).

The crash resulted in the loss of at least 270 lives, marking it as one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent history. Investigators are currently examining the wreckage and analyzing data from the aircraft's black boxes to determine the cause of the incident (New York Times).

Analysis

The claim that one engine on the crashed Air India plane was brand new is supported by statements from credible sources, including Air India's chairman and various news outlets reporting on the incident. The confirmation of the engine's status comes from N Chandrasekaran, who has direct knowledge of the aircraft's maintenance history. His assertion is corroborated by multiple articles, including one from News.com.au that highlights the new engine's installation date.

However, it is important to note that the condition of an aircraft engine is not solely determined by its age. Experts, such as Kishore Chinta, a former investigator with India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, have pointed out that "the age of the engine has no bearing on the health of the engine, especially for the Genx-1B engines" used in the Boeing 787-8 (BBC). This suggests that while one engine was new, it does not guarantee that it was functioning optimally at the time of the crash.

The investigation is ongoing, and while the new engine's status is a factual element, the overall health and performance of the engines will be critical in understanding the crash's cause. The reliability of the sources reporting this information is high, as they include both official statements from Air India and analyses from aviation experts.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that one engine on the crashed Air India plane was brand new is accurate based on direct statements from Air India's chairman and corroborating reports from reputable news sources. While the newness of the engine is confirmed, the investigation will ultimately determine the role that both engines played in the crash.

Fact Check: One engine on crashed Air India plane was brand new.