Air India plane crash involving a 787 aircraft
In a tragic turn of events, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and 12 crew members crashed near the Ahmedabad Airport in India on June 12, 2025. The aircraft, with registration VT-ANB, was en route to London's Gatwick Airport when the incident occurred.
The crash, which reportedly took place in a civilian area close to the airport, was confirmed by the Director General of the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Faiz Ahmed Kidwai. The aircraft departed from Runway 23 at 1:39pm local time, and the last signal received from the aircraft was at 6:08pm Sydney time, just seconds after takeoff.
The crash occurred during takeoff, and the aircraft struck a residential hostel block in Meghani Nagar, resulting in 241 deaths on board and 19 on the ground. The intense heat of the crash hampered rescue efforts and identification of victims.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the crash was primarily caused by a catastrophic dual engine failure, possibly exacerbated by flap and landing gear problems. Evidence points to a dual engine failure shortly after takeoff. The right engine, which had been overhauled and reinstalled in March 2025, and the left engine, inspected in April 2025 with no faults reported, are under scrutiny.
A small protrusion beneath the wing visible in video footage indicated the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) — a backup device that supplies limited power during total engine or hydraulic failures. The RAT deployment and a loud bang followed by flickering cabin lights were reported by the sole survivor, supporting the engine failure theory.
The crew of Air India Flight AI171 issued a "Mayday" emergency signal shortly after takeoff but failed to respond to subsequent attempts at contact by Air Traffic Control (ATC). The captain of the aircraft had 8,200 hours of flying experience, and the co-pilot had 1,100 hours of flying experience.
India's Minister for Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, has expressed shock and is monitoring the situation. The Director General of the DGCA and the Chairman of Tata Group have confirmed the accident and expressed condolences.
The airport is currently not operational, and all flight operations are suspended until further notice. Emergency responders are evacuating injured individuals and transporting them via ambulance. Flight tracking site Flightradar24 reported receiving the last signal from the aircraft just seconds after departure.
This tragic event marks the first fatal incident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a type of aircraft that has been in service since 2011. The last fatal plane crash in India occurred in 2020.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge in the coming days.
- The aviation industry is bracing for the aftermath of the tragic crash involving an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a first for this type of aircraft, which has significant implications for the transportation and finance sectors, as well as the lifestyles of countless travelers.
- Amidst the ongoing investigation, the finance department of the airline industry is closely watching the potential financial ramifications, while the transportation industry is apprehensive about the impact on passenger confidence and safety regulations.
- As the news continues to circulate, lifestyle bloggers and travel enthusiasts are weighing in on the incident, shedding light on its broader impact on the aviation world and the safety measures that should be in place to ensure the secure future of air travel.
