Air India has grounded three of its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft to enable comprehensive investigations following a devastating crash in Ahmedabad earlier this year. The accident, which occurred on June 12, 2025, claimed the lives of 241 out of the 242 people on board.
Flight AI171, en route from Ahmedabad Airport to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, impacted the hostel block of B. J. Medical College, situated approximately 1.7 kilometers from the runway. The crash caused extensive damage to the surrounding buildings. In addition to the fatalities on board, 19 people on the ground were killed, and 67 sustained serious injuries.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the crash was triggered by a dual engine failure, caused by the fuel control switches abruptly moving to the cutoff position seconds after the aircraft left the ground. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is still investigating the cause of the switch movement.
The decision to ground the three planes underscores Air India's commitment to safety and its determination to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The airline is working closely with investigators and aviation experts to thoroughly examine all potential factors that may have contributed to the accident. These "enhanced pre-flight safety checks" are also leading to the reduction of international services. Routes between Delhi-Nairobi, Amritsar-Gatwick and Goa-Gatwick are being suspended entirely.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been closely monitoring Air India's operations in the wake of the crash. While an initial review of Air India's Boeing 787 fleet did not reveal any major safety flaws, the DGCA has urged the airline to improve coordination between its internal departments to bolster overall safety compliance. Following the crash, Air India cancelled 66 flights operated by Boeing 787 aircraft.
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, which acquired Air India in 2022, emphasized the need to learn from the incident and build a safer airline. The Tata Group has invested significantly in modernizing Air India's fleet and improving its safety standards.
The grounding of the three aircraft is expected to cause some disruption to Air India's flight schedules. The airline has apologized to passengers for the inconvenience and is offering alternative travel arrangements, including full refunds or complimentary rescheduling.
The accident has had a significant impact on Air India, which is still recovering from the aftermath. The airline is committed to cooperating fully with the investigation and taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of its passengers and crew.
