Air India Grounds Boeing 787 After Fuel Switch Issue, While India-US Trade Deal Brings Hope Amidst Safety Concerns in China
Air India grounded a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner jet on Monday after a pilot reported a potential defect in the aircraft's fuel control switch, according to the airline. The airline immediately informed India's aviation regulator about the issue and stated that the pilot's concerns were being checked on a "priority basis."
A Boeing spokesperson confirmed they were in contact with Air India and "supporting their review of this matter." The grounding occurred amidst an ongoing investigation into a plane crash last June involving an Air India aircraft of the same model.
In other news, a recently struck trade deal between India and the United States brought a sense of relief to India's economy. US President Donald Trump decided to lower reciprocal tariffs on India from 50% to 18%. India had been paying the highest tariffs in the world after Trump raised import duties on Indian goods from 25% to 50% in August of the previous year, citing Delhi's purchase of discounted Russian oil as helping fund Moscow's war effort in Ukraine. The details of the agreement remained sketchy, even after a call between Trump and India's prime minister on Monday.
Meanwhile, in China, new safety regulations were introduced affecting the automotive industry. China banned hidden door handles on electric vehicles (EVs), becoming the first country to prohibit the use of these designs, popularized by Tesla. The decision came as EVs face increased scrutiny from safety watchdogs globally, following several deadly incidents, including two fatal crashes in China involving Xiaomi EVs where power failures were suspected of preventing doors from opening. Under the new regulations, cars can only be sold if they have a mechanical release both on the inside and outside of their doors, according to state media. These rules are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment