Aircraft Accident Involving Boeing 787 by Air India: Current Updates
The skies over Ahmedabad were shrouded in tragedy on June 12, 2025, as Air India Flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick, came down just five minutes after takeoff. The incident, which resulted in only one survivor, Mr. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, marks a grim milestone - the first ever hull loss of a Boeing 787 since the type entered service in 2011.
The aircraft, under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar, struggled to gain altitude moments after departing runway 23. According to FlightRadar24 data, the aircraft reached an altitude of only 625ft before descending uncontrollably, eventually crashing into the Meghani Nagar residential area.
Initial video footage suggests that the landing gear remained extended throughout the brief flight, raising speculation about engine failure and hydraulic system loss. Eyewitnesses and expert analysis appear to support this theory. Nagarjun Dwarakanth, a licensed commercial pilot and editor at India Today TV, suggests a possible cascading technical failure or emergency crew actions in response to a malfunction. Aviation safety expert Josh Wood, from Airlineratings, speculates that engine and hydraulic failure are likely causes based on the video footage.
The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, with the Directorate of Civil Aviation in India leading the probe, alongside assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Boeing. The aircraft involved, registered VT-ANB, was delivered to Air India in January 2014, making it over 11 years old.
Boeing has expressed readiness to support the investigation but has not yet identified a definitive cause. The 787-8 Dreamliner model, with its strong safety record, has not experienced a fatal crash until now.
As the investigation continues, the aviation community awaits the findings with bated breath, hoping for answers that will help prevent such tragedies in the future. The investigation involves Indian authorities, Boeing, and U.S. aviation safety experts, with the aim of determining the precise reasons behind this first fatal accident involving the Dreamliner.
Airline news is abuzz with the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 on June 12, 2025, causing a grim milestone in aviation history. The incident, which led to the first hull loss of a Boeing 787 since its entry into service in 2011, has raised concerns about potential engine and hydraulic system failures, as suggested by eyewitnesses and experts. General news outlets are also covering car-accidents and crime-and-justice stories, but the sports sector saw an unusual intersection with sports-betting news, as the crash diverted attention away from the UEFA Champions League final. Despite the ongoing investigation, fires continue to rage in several parts of the country.
