Air India Flight 171: Full Report on the Boeing 787 Crash in Ahmedabad
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171 tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) in Ahmedabad, India. The flight, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner registered VT-ANB, was en route to London Gatwick Airport (LGW) in the United Kingdom. This event marked the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 since the aircraft’s introduction in 2011 and has become one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent history.
The aircraft departed Ahmedabad at approximately 1:38 p.m. local time with 242 people onboard, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Just moments after liftoff, at an altitude of roughly 600 feet, the aircraft began an uncontrolled descent. Within seconds, it crashed into the premises of B.J. Medical College in the Meghani Nagar neighborhood, located just a few kilometers from the airport. The crash site included a hostel building, which was heavily damaged on impact, killing numerous occupants inside.
A total of 241 people onboard the aircraft lost their lives, with one passenger miraculously surviving the incident. That sole survivor, British national Vishwash Ramesh, was seated in seat 11A next to an emergency exit. Reports indicate he managed to escape through the emergency door after the impact, sustaining injuries but surviving the destruction that claimed so many others. Additionally, at least 38 people on the ground died as a result of the building impact and ensuing fires.
The aircraft involved in the crash was one of the earliest Boeing 787s delivered to Air India, having entered service in 2012. Despite its advanced design, the Dreamliner had logged significant flight hours and was scheduled for a major inspection later in the year. Investigators are closely examining its maintenance history, engine performance records, and any recent reports of mechanical issues.
Preliminary observations pointed to a sudden deployment of the aircraft’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a device that activates in emergencies when the plane experiences a total loss of electrical or hydraulic power. Experts, including former military aviators and commercial pilots, believe this points strongly to a catastrophic dual engine failure shortly after takeoff. There was no distress call made by the pilots, reinforcing the theory that the crew had virtually no time to respond before the aircraft lost lift and descended uncontrollably.
Both the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and the flight data recorder (FDR) were recovered within days of the crash and have been sent for analysis. These black boxes are expected to provide vital insights into the aircraft’s final moments, engine performance, and cockpit communications. As of June 17, 2025, India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the inquiry, with support from the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), Boeing, General Electric (the engine manufacturer), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In the wake of the tragedy, India’s aviation regulator—the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)—has ordered comprehensive inspections of all Boeing 787s in the country’s fleet. Shortly after the crash, another Air India Dreamliner was forced to return mid-flight due to a technical issue, prompting additional caution. Boeing’s Commercial Airplanes president, Stephanie Pope, traveled to India to meet with Air India officials and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
This crash has reignited discussions about the reliability of new-generation aircraft, emergency procedures, and airline oversight. With no previous fatal accidents in the Boeing 787’s operational history, the disaster has alarmed both the public and aviation authorities. Families of victims have begun demanding answers, and global aviation leaders are closely monitoring the investigation’s developments.
The final report from the investigation is expected within three months. In the meantime, the tragedy of Flight 171 stands as a sobering reminder of how quickly a routine flight can turn catastrophic, even with state-of-the-art technology. The aviation world now waits for answers—both to understand what went wrong and to prevent such a loss from ever happening again.
We will continue to follow this story closely and bring you the latest verified updates as the investigation progresses. Stay tuned for more developments on this major aviation event.
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