On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, resulting in fatalities and injuries. The investigation is ongoing, with many unknowns surrounding the cause of the accident.
On Thursday, June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787, operating as Flight 171, tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport in India. This incident has raised numerous questions and concerns, as it marks the first fatal accident involving the Boeing 787 since its introduction in 2011, and the first fatal accident for Air India since 1985.
Air India Flight 171 was a scheduled service from Ahmedabad, India, to London Gatwick. The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, registered as Tango Alpha November Bravo. Onboard were 242 individuals, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The flight took off from Ahmedabad's runway 23 at 13:38 local time (08:08 UTC).
Data from Flight Tracker 24 indicates that the aircraft initially climbed to 625 feet above sea level before beginning its descent. Given that Ahmedabad's airport elevation is 189 feet, the plane reached an altitude of approximately 436 feet above ground level. Video footage captured during the incident shows the aircraft climbing after takeoff before it began to descend with a high nose attitude.
During the initial climb, the landing gear appeared to still be deployed, while the flaps seemed to be retracted. The Boeing 787's flaps can be set as low as 1° for takeoff. Although it is difficult to confirm the exact flap position from the footage, it is suggested that the flaps were likely in the correct position, as any misconfiguration would typically trigger an alarm in the cockpit during takeoff.
The aircraft crashed into a residential area, resulting in a fire upon impact. There has been one confirmed survivor, but the exact number of fatalities on the ground remains unknown. The investigation into the crash will be led by Indian authorities, with assistance from investigators from the United States, where the aircraft and its engines were manufactured.
The Boeing 787 has faced several challenges since its entry into service. Initially, there were issues with overheating batteries that led to fires, but these problems were eventually resolved. More recently, quality control problems during production have come to light, raising concerns about the aircraft's reliability.
The Boeing 787 can be equipped with two engine options. The first, the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000, has been plagued by premature wear and cracking of its intermediate pressure compressor blades, causing operational disruptions for various airlines. The aircraft involved in this accident was powered by two General Electric GEnx-1B67 engines. While this engine generally has a better track record, it is not without its issues. One significant vulnerability is its susceptibility to high-altitude ice crystal icing, which can lead to temporary power loss.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has previously investigated fractures in the fan blade shaft of the GEnx engines. In May 2024, a United Airlines 787-9 experienced an uncontained engine failure shortly after takeoff from Singapore, which is still under investigation.
As for why Air India Flight 171 crashed, one possibility is a double engine failure, although such events are extremely rare. Typically, double engine failures occur due to bird strikes, as seen in the recent JU air accident. However, at this point, the exact cause of the crash remains unknown, and it is crucial to refrain from speculation until the investigation is complete.
The tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 has left many questions unanswered. As investigators work to uncover the details surrounding this incident, it is essential to respect the memory of those who lost their lives and to allow the investigation to proceed without speculation. The hope is that the black boxes, which are actually bright orange, will provide the necessary answers to understand what went wrong on that fateful day.
Thank you for reading this overview of the incident. We will continue to monitor the situation as more information becomes available.
