Ankara, June 16 - On June 12, 2025, a tragic incident shook the aviation world when Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport. The catastrophic accident claimed the lives of 241 of the 242 passengers on board, with the aircraft crashing into the premises of a medical college in Meghaninagar, also causing additional casualties on the ground. In the aftermath, speculation arose regarding the maintenance history of the ill-fated aircraft, with some reports suggesting that Turkish Technic, a prominent aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider, might have serviced the plane. This led to a swift and firm response from Turkish authorities, who categorically denied any involvement of Turkish Technic in maintaining the crashed Dreamliner, labeling such claims as false and misleading.
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The Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications Center for Countering Disinformation issued an official statement on June 13, 2025, clarifying that Turkish Technic had no connection to the maintenance of the Boeing 787-8 involved in the crash. The statement emphasized that maintenance agreements between Air India and Turkish Technic, signed for 2024 and 2025, exclusively cover Boeing 777 wide-body aircraft. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a different aircraft type, was explicitly outside the scope of these agreements. Turkish officials further noted that Turkish Technic had never performed maintenance on any Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft to date. This clarification was supported by multiple sources, including Anadolu Agency’s Fact-Check Line, which confirmed that images circulating online, purportedly showing the crashed aircraft at Turkish Technic’s facilities, actually depicted a Boeing 777, not a Dreamliner.
The Turkish authorities also acknowledged that they were aware of the company responsible for the most recent maintenance of the crashed aircraft but refrained from disclosing its identity to avoid fueling further speculation. The Center for Countering Disinformation underscored its commitment to monitoring and addressing attempts to tarnish the reputation of Turkish brands, particularly those representing Türkiye on the global stage. The statement extended condolences to the Indian people, expressing solidarity in the wake of the tragedy and emphasizing Türkiye’s dedication to transparency in aviation safety matters.
The controversy surrounding the maintenance claims coincided with strained India-Turkey relations, partly due to geopolitical tensions following Türkiye’s support for Pakistan during India’s Operation Sindoor. This context led some Indian entities, including Air India, to reconsider partnerships with Turkish firms. Earlier in June 2025, Air India’s CEO, Campbell Wilson, announced plans to reduce reliance on Turkish Technic for maintaining its wide-body fleet, redirecting operations to alternative MRO facilities to enhance efficiency. Despite these developments, Turkish officials maintained that the allegations linking Turkish Technic to the crash were baseless and aimed at manipulating public opinion. As investigations into the crash continue, focusing on potential issues with the aircraft’s engines, flaps, or landing gear, the Turkish government’s prompt clarification seeks to set the record straight, ensuring that the focus remains on uncovering the true cause of the tragedy rather than unfounded speculation.