The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, part of Air India’s modern fleet, crashed minutes after takeoff, raising questions over safety and fleet management. Investigation is underway.
June-12, 2025: A 12-year-old Boeing 787 Dreamliner—registered as VT-ANB—operating Air India Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday afternoon, killing or injuring scores of passengers and possibly civilians on the ground.
Also Read: Chilling Video Captures Air India Plane Crash Moments After Takeoff in Ahmedabad
The aircraft had flown in from New Delhi earlier that morning and was one of 27 Dreamliners in Air India’s fleet. It took off at 1:38 PM and crashed minutes later into a residential area near Meghnaninagar, making it one of the most devastating civil aviation accidents in India in recent years.
✈️ Key Details:
- Aircraft Age & Model: Boeing 787-8, delivered in December 2013
- Flight Number: AI171
- Passengers Onboard: 242 (230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, 2 pilots)
- Nationalities: 169 Indians, 53 British, 1 Canadian, 7 Portuguese
- Crash Site: Residential area near BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad
- Previous Route: Flew from New Delhi to Ahmedabad just hours before
- Cause (Suspected): Experts suggest possible bird strike leading to engine failure and inadequate lift
- Emergency Protocol: A Mayday call was issued before radio silence ensued
- Crash Impact: Debris scattered, fire broke out, rescue efforts ongoing
Also Read: What Went Wrong? Minute-by-Minute Breakdown of Air India Crash Horror
💬 Air India Responds:
Air India initially called it an “incident,” but later confirmed the crash. In a symbolic gesture, the airline blacked out its social media profile pictures and removed flight info from its tracking systems.
Chairman N Chandrasekaran expressed sorrow and confirmed that relief and support efforts had begun. The Government of India, DGCA, and NDRF are jointly coordinating emergency and investigation operations.
Also Read: How Did An Expert Pilot and His Young Co-Pilot End Up In A Deadly Air India Crash?
⚠️ Implications for Air India:
This is the first crash involving a Dreamliner model in commercial service since its global debut, and the first major crash under Tata Group’s management of Air India. With one aircraft lost and possible brand implications, experts say the airline could undergo a fleet-wide review, especially as it tries to reposition itself with its “Transit via India” campaign.
🔍 Next Steps:
- Recovery of Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) is underway
- Investigation teams from DGCA and Boeing expected to examine the crash site
- Ahmedabad airport is temporarily shut for commercial operations
- Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu is on-site; PM Modi is monitoring developments
Tags:
Air India crash, Boeing 787 crash, VT-ANB aircraft, Dreamliner incident India, Ahmedabad plane crash, flight AI171, Tata Group Air India, Air India fleet safety, aviation disaster India