Air India Crash Sparks False Claims Involving Turkish Company: Fact-Check Reveals the Truth
Tragedy and Turmoil in Indian Aviation
On a tragic Thursday, an Air India aircraft flying from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport crashed in western India, killing and injuring several of the 242 people on board. The incident sent shockwaves through the aviation world and prompted immediate investigations by national and international aviation authorities.
But even before officials could release any concrete findings, the internet was flooded with misinformation. Various social media users and some Indian media platforms began to circulate misleading claims suggesting that the ill-fated aircraft had been maintained by Turkish Technic, a well-known aviation maintenance firm based in Istanbul, Turkey.
These claims have now been debunked by Anadolu Agency’s Fact-Check Line, which confirms that Turkish Technic had no connection with the crashed plane. The disinformation, driven by misleading images and premature assumptions, underscores the dangers of viral misinformation during times of crisis.
The Flight and Its Tragic End
The Air India flight that crashed was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a modern, long-haul aircraft known for fuel efficiency and safety features. It took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport and was scheduled to land at London Gatwick. Unfortunately, during its journey, the aircraft experienced a critical malfunction and crashed over western Indian territory.
According to aviation authorities, the plane was carrying 242 passengers and crew members. Emergency services rushed to the scene. Rescuers worked tirelessly to recover survivors, assist the injured, and retrieve the flight data and cockpit voice recorders—commonly known as the black boxes.
As of now, the official cause of the crash remains unknown, and investigators are exploring all possible angles, including mechanical failure, human error, and external environmental factors.
Misinformation Begins to Spread
While families grieved and aviation professionals worked to determine the cause of the tragedy, false claims began to spread online.
Several posts emerged on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and various news blogs, showing pictures of Air India planes in front of Turkish Technic hangars. These posts incorrectly suggested that the crashed aircraft had recently undergone maintenance at Turkish Technic facilities and that improper servicing might have contributed to the disaster.
Such posts quickly went viral, leading to widespread confusion. The visuals were emotionally charged, and the captions were written in a way that strongly implied negligence by the Turkish company.
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Why Turkish Technic Was Blamed
The source of the confusion appears to be old photos and misidentified aircraft models. The images used in the misleading posts showed Boeing 777 aircraft in front of Turkish Technic hangars, whereas the aircraft involved in the crash was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
While both models are made by Boeing, they differ significantly in design, size, systems, and maintenance requirements. Turkish Technic does, in fact, maintain Air India’s Boeing 777 fleet, but it does not provide maintenance services for the Boeing 787 series.
The mistaken link appears to have been drawn purely based on visual similarities and assumptions, rather than verified facts.
Fact-Check by Anadolu Agency Debunks the Claim
To counter the flood of misinformation, Anadolu Agency—Turkey’s state-run news outlet—deployed its Fact-Check Line, a dedicated unit that investigates viral claims and misinformation. Led by Ahmet Faruk Unal, the fact-checking team thoroughly examined the claims being circulated online.
Their findings were clear and backed by official sources:
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The crashed aircraft was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
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The photos circulating online showed Air India’s Boeing 777, not the Dreamliner.
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Turkish Technic only maintains the Boeing 777 for Air India under an existing contract.
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A post from Turkish Technic on April 9 confirms that their services are limited to the Boeing 777 models.
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There is no evidence linking Turkish Technic to the maintenance of the crashed aircraft.
Ahmet Faruk Unal publicly shared the fact-check report, stating, “This is a classic case of visual misinformation. The crashed aircraft had no relation to Turkish Technic. The assumptions made based on misleading photos are completely unfounded.”
Turkish Technic Responds to Allegations
In response to the misinformation, Turkish Technic released an official statement, reaffirming their position and clarifying their contractual relationship with Air India.
The statement read:
“Turkish Technic only maintains Boeing 777 aircraft under its agreement with Air India. The aircraft involved in the recent crash was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a model which we do not service. Our maintenance procedures are carried out under international aviation standards and are regularly audited for safety and compliance.”
Turkish Technic also emphasized that all aircraft they currently service are fully operational and have no reported safety issues.
Air India’s Official Stand
Air India also issued a public advisory, urging media outlets and citizens not to speculate about the cause of the crash. The airline expressed grief over the incident and emphasized their cooperation with investigation authorities.
In their statement, the airline said:
“We deeply regret the tragic incident and mourn the loss of lives. We are committed to full transparency and are assisting authorities with all available resources. Any suggestion linking the crash to Turkish Technic or third-party maintenance is premature and inaccurate at this stage.”
Experts Warn About Premature Judgments
Aviation safety experts were quick to caution the public against jumping to conclusions before official investigation results are released. According to Captain Arvind Dutta, a former Air India pilot and aviation consultant:
“Aviation accidents are rarely caused by a single factor. They often involve a chain of events. It’s irresponsible to assign blame based on superficial information like hangar photos or aircraft model confusion. Such speculation can mislead the public and distract from real issues.”
Other aviation experts stressed the importance of letting official investigators do their job. The aircraft’s black boxes are now being analyzed, which will reveal key data about engine performance, flight trajectory, and pilot communication in the moments leading up to the crash.
The Role of Social Media in Spreading Misinformation
This incident underscores how quickly false narratives can spread during a crisis. Within hours of the crash, thousands of shares and retweets spread misinformation that was difficult to contain, even after being disproved.
Experts blame a lack of digital literacy, emotional manipulation through visuals, and the race for online engagement as primary reasons behind the spread of such fake news.
Some platforms have fact-checking features, but they often activate too late to prevent misinformation from going viral. In this case, Anadolu’s swift intervention was instrumental in controlling the narrative before it got further out of hand.
Understanding the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
To clarify further, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is one of the most advanced commercial aircraft models globally. It is designed for fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and enhanced passenger comfort. The model has a strong safety record, with thousands of successful flights each year.
Comparatively, the Boeing 777 is larger and older but still widely used for long-haul international flights. It requires different tools, software, and expertise for maintenance.
This technical distinction is crucial because aviation maintenance firms are certified for specific aircraft models. Turkish Technic, although fully qualified to handle the Boeing 777, does not service the 787 series for Air India or any other international airline without the proper certifications and agreements.
Ongoing Investigation
The investigation into the Air India crash is being led by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in collaboration with international aviation experts and representatives from Boeing.
Preliminary findings are expected to be shared within weeks, but complete investigations often take months due to the complexity of analyzing flight data, interviewing crew members (if any survived), and recreating the sequence of events.
Until the findings are released, aviation authorities are urging the public and the media to avoid speculation.
Conclusion: Truth Must Prevail
The false linking of Turkish Technic to the tragic crash of an Air India Dreamliner is a textbook case of misinformation in the age of social media. Visual misinterpretation, incomplete understanding of aviation protocols, and emotionally charged reactions can lead to real-world consequences—from reputational damage to misinformation influencing public opinion.
Thanks to the timely intervention of Anadolu’s Fact-Check Line and statements from both Turkish Technic and Air India, the record has been set straight. However, the incident highlights a much larger issue: the need for responsible digital behavior and critical thinking during crises.
