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Boeing (NYSE:BA) -1.8% pre-market Friday following the stock’s nearly 5% drop in the previous session, as reports indicate India’s government likely will ground the Dreamliner 787-8 fleet for a safety review, a day after one of the aircraft supplied to Air India crashed shortly takeoff, killing more than 240 people.
Air India also is likely to face scrutiny over its standard operating procedure on aircraft maintenance; the carrier has not suffered crashes in its recent past, but it has been working to overcome a legacy of unprofitability and a reputation for shoddy service.
An early focus of an investigation is expected to focus on whether the aircraft had a loss or reduction in engine thrust as a factor in the crash, although many questions remain unanswered; CNN reported that the crash was not caused by a bird strike or overloading.
India’s civil aviation minister said at least one of the plane’s black boxes was recovered from the wreckage.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Acting Federal Aviation Administration head Chris Rocheleau said late Thursday they have not yet seen any safety data that would suggest the need for an immediate halt Boeing (NYSE:BA) 787 flights in the U.S.
Duffy said he had spoken to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy, and a team of NTSB and FAA officials, with support from Boeing (BA) and engine manufacturer GE Aerospace (GEV), would be going to India.