A Single Survivor Emerges From the Disastrous Air India Aircraft Wreckage That Claimed 241 Lives, According to Reports
Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday, leaving 38 people unaccounted for and causing widespread concern. The crash occurred on Runway 23 at Ahmedabad Airport, a 11,499 feet long runway.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash. Preliminary findings suggest that the plane may have experienced a rapid descent, reaching a maximum altitude of 625 feet before crashing into B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad.
The investigation is ongoing, with a preliminary report expected to be released by July 11, 2025. This report will provide initial insights into the crash, including possible causes, details about the aircraft, the crew, the weather and airport conditions at the time of the accident, and information about the wreckage. It will also identify the lead investigator and outline the progress and next steps for the investigation.
Data from both black boxes has been recovered and is currently being analysed. The investigation covers all possible angles, including sabotage, and reviews pilot control inputs, cockpit conversations, aircraft system data, as well as air traffic control communications and weather conditions during the final minutes before the crash.
Reports suggest a false sensor failure causing a sudden engine shutdown is a leading hypothesis, which has grounded 34 Dreamliners globally and prompted safety probes. However, no conclusion on the exact cause has been made public yet.
The crash has left a tragic toll, with 204 bodies recovered from the crash site and 41 people reported injured. Among the deceased is former politician Vijay Rupani, the former chief minister of the Indian state of Gujarat. The majority of the passengers on the flight were Indian nationals, with 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian national.
One survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national, was reported by the Hindustan Times and the BBC. If one engine failed on the flight, there would have been a second engine to fly the plane. However, the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Former NTSB crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti stated that the crash did not appear to be caused by an airstrike. Despite the ongoing investigation, no safety deficiencies were found in Air India’s other Dreamliners during inspections following the crash, and the recent maintenance history of the involved aircraft didn't show prior issues.
The crash of Air India Flight 171 marks the first time a Boeing Dreamliner has been involved in a major accident. The incident has led to a drop in Boeing shares, falling over 4% following the crash. The investigation is expected to continue actively, with detailed findings to be released after the release of the preliminary report.
- The ongoing investigation into Air India Flight 171's crash focuses on various possible causes, including tech malfunctions, pilot errors, and war-and-conflicts implications.
- Tech experts and media outlets like Gizmodo are closely following the results of the data collected from the plane's black boxes to determine potential contributions of tech failures to the accident.
- The crash of Air India Flight 171 has stirred debates in the realm of general-news and politics, with questions regarding the safety of tech in the future of aviation and the role of tech companies in ensuring safety.
- Despite the initial crash incident causing a drop in Boeing's share prices, the findings from the investigation may have future consequences on the reputation of the company in the tech sector and the aviation industry specifically.
- The crash has also invoked conversations about crime-and-justice, raising questions about potential accountability for aircraft manufacturers and other parties involved, particularly if negligence is found to have played a role in the accident.
