The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday, June 12, 2025, sending shockwaves through the aviation world and leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew, plummeted into a densely populated residential area near the city's airport, killing all but one on board and at least 29 people on the ground. The sole survivor, an British national, remains under observation at a local hospital.
Eyewitness accounts and video footage captured the horrifying final moments of the flight, with the plane struggling to gain altitude before crashing into a medical college hostel. The impact ignited a massive fire, engulfing the building and surrounding area in flames. First responders faced an arduous task in battling the blaze and attempting to rescue survivors from the wreckage.
The aftermath of the crash has been heart-wrenching, with families of the victims arriving in Ahmedabad to identify their loved ones and perform last rites. The process has been slow and painstaking due to the extent of the damage, with authorities relying on DNA testing to identify the charred and mutilated remains. As of Monday, June 16, 2025, 99 victims have been identified through DNA matching, and 64 bodies have been handed over to their families.
The Indian government has launched a high-level investigation into the crash, with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) leading the probe. Teams from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the U.K. are assisting in the investigation. Both the flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), also known as the "black boxes," have been recovered and are being analyzed to determine the cause of the crash. Investigators hope that the CVR will provide vital clues about the final moments of the flight, including conversations between the pilots, alarms, and ambient sounds.
Aviation experts suggest various potential causes for the crash, including engine failure, pilot error, fuel contamination, or foreign object damage. One theory is that the aircraft experienced a stall due to insufficient lift, possibly caused by a thrust issue. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are exploring all possible scenarios.
The Air India crash has raised serious concerns about the safety of Boeing aircraft and has put the company under increased scrutiny. This incident adds to a string of public relations crises for Boeing, which has been grappling with safety issues and economic pressures. In the wake of the crash, Indian authorities have ordered Air India to conduct additional safety checks on all of its Boeing 787s.
Just days after the crash, another Air India flight, also a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, returned to Hong Kong shortly after takeoff due to a "technical issue." While the airline stated that the return was a matter of "abundant precaution," the incident has further heightened concerns about the safety of Air India's fleet.
The crash has had a profound impact on the families of the victims, who are struggling to cope with their loss and navigate the bureaucratic processes involved in identifying and repatriating the remains of their loved ones. The families of some British victims have criticized the UK government's response to the disaster, saying they "feel utterly abandoned" and calling for greater support and presence on the ground in Ahmedabad.
The Air India crash is a tragic reminder of the risks associated with air travel and the importance of maintaining the highest standards of safety. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on determining the cause of the crash and implementing measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
