Türkiye on Backfoot? Denies Involvement in Air India AI171 Boeing 787-8 Maintenance Amid Crash Controversy
Turkish authorities have denied reports suggesting that Turkish Technic, a leading aircraft maintenance provider, was involved in servicing the ill-fated Air India AI171 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner before its recent crash. The Turkish government has labeled such claims as “disinformation” aimed at straining Turkey-India relations.
Backdrop: The Air India AI171 Crash
The Air India AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, met with a tragic accident during take-off, leading to widespread speculation about potential maintenance lapses. While investigations are still underway, unverified reports surfaced claiming that Turkish Technic had conducted recent maintenance on the aircraft—a claim that Turkish officials have vehemently refuted.
Turkey’s Official Statement
In an official release, Turkish authorities clarified:
- The claim that Turkish Technic performed maintenance on the crashed Boeing 787-8 is false.
- Under 2024 and 2025 agreements between Air India and Turkish Technic, maintenance services are exclusively for B777 wide-body aircraft, not the 787-8 Dreamliner.
- Turkish Technic has never serviced any Air India Boeing 787-8 to date.
- While Turkey is aware of which company last maintained the aircraft, it refrained from naming them to avoid further speculation.
The statement also emphasized that Turkey’s Center for Countering Disinformation will actively monitor and counter false narratives targeting Turkey’s aviation reputation.
The claim that ‘the maintenance of the Boeing 787-8 passenger aircraft was carried out by Turkish Technic’ following the crash of an Air India passenger aircraft during take-off is false.
— Dezenformasyonla Mücadele Merkezi (@dmmiletisim) June 13, 2025
The claim that the crashed aircraft was maintained by Turkish Technic constitutes… pic.twitter.com/lmdjVKHMSo
A Gesture of Solidarity or Damage Control?
Expressing condolences, Turkish officials stated:
“As the people of Turkey, we sincerely share the grief of the Indian people over this tragic plane crash.”
What’s Next?
With the crash investigation ongoing, aviation experts are scrutinizing maintenance records, flight data, and possible technical failures. Meanwhile, Turkey’s rebuttal seeks to safeguard its aviation industry’s credibility amid swirling misinformation.
