The precautionary inspections, as well as the closure of airspace in some Middle Eastern countries, have strained Air India operations across domestic and international routes.

The regulator advised the airline to “strictly adhere to regulations,” and asked it to strengthen internal coordination across engineering, operations and ground handling units and ensure adequate availability of spares to mitigate flight delays.

Experts from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau are probing the crash with assistance from the UK, the US and officials from Boeing.

Some aviation experts see the crash as a temporary setback for Air India as it transforms from a financially troubled state-owned carrier to a privately owned company with ambitions for broad expansion.

“If you ask me whether the accident will derail the ambitious growth plans, no way. There can be no looking back,” said Jitender Bhargava, a former Air India executive director.

The company already has placed huge orders for new aircrafts. Its present challenge is to boost the morale of employees and passengers through confidence building measures, Bhargava said.

“The faster you make people forget this one-off accident, the better it is,” Bhargava said.

Indian conglomerate Tata Sons took over Air India in 2022, returning the debt-saddled national carrier to private ownership after decades of government control.

The $US2.4 billion ($3.68 billion) deal was seen as the government’s effort to sell off a loss-making, state-run businesses. It also was in some ways a homecoming for Air India, which was launched by the Tata family in 1932.

Since the takeover, Air India has ordered hundreds of new planes worth over $US70 billion (107.5 billion), redesigned its branding and livery and absorbed smaller airlines Tata held stakes in.

The company additionally has committed millions of dollars to digital overhauls of aircrafts and refurbishing interiors of more than five dozen legacy planes.

Air India has ordered nearly three dozen trainer aircrafts and set up one of South Asia’s largest training academy for professionals.