What could have happened to the Air India plane?

What could have happened to the Air India plane?

Air India flight AI171 took off from Ahmedabad to London on Thursday (June 12), but it was only a short flight.

The Boeing 787-8, with fully loaded fuel tanks, took off from Ahmedabad for London with 242 people on board, including the crew.

How can we find out why this plane crashed in 30 seconds? Here’s an explanation.

Here’s a comprehensive blog‑style breakdown of what’s currently known about the Air India Boeing 787 crash (Flight AI 171) that occurred on June 12, 2025, near Ahmedabad:

Air India Flight AI 171—a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner—took off from Ahmedabad at 13:38 IST, bound for London Gatwick. It climbed briefly, failed to gain proper altitude, and crashed about 30 seconds after departure into a doctor’s hostel and other campus buildings—exploding into a massive fireball. Only one of the 242 onboard survived

Casualties & Ground Impact

  • Onboard: 241 fatalities (230 passengers + 12 crew), 1 survivor

  • Ground: At least 29 people killed in the hostel, including medical students

  • Nationalities: predominantly Indian, with British, Portuguese, Canadian also aboard

Possible Causes Under Investigation

Dual Engine/Thrust Failure

  • Survivor and pilot voice (a “mayday, thrust not achieved” call) suggest both engines may have lost power moments after liftoff

  • Analyst suggestions plus visible Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployment in footage point to a catastrophic engine failure scenario

Configuration Errors
  • Eyewitness video shows landing gear and flaps still down during takeoff; specialists wonder if improper retraction or mistaken flap/gear operation may have reduced lift
Pre-existing Technical Issues

  • A passenger reported cabin failures (air‑conditioning, screens, call buttons) on the earlier flight of the same aircraft—indicating possible underlying electrical/mechanical problems

  • Footage mentioned flickering lights and loss of thrust from survivor’s account, hinting at power failures

Investigative Scope

  • Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with U.S. NTSB and U.K. agencies, are analyzing both black boxes (flight data and cockpit voice recorders) and CCTV footage for clues

  • A high‑level committee is reviewing factors like runway use, engine systems, cockpit procedures, software/electrical systems .

What Experts Are Saying

  • Veteran pilot (Steve Schreiber): RAT deployment hints at sudden dual engine failure

  • Aviation expert (Ahmed Busnaina): Misconfigured flaps or failure to retract them could be a critical factor

  • Investigator speculations: Configuration errors (flaps/gear), power system faults, or engine thrust issues are being treated as prime possibilities.

What Happens Next

  • Black box readings expected soon—and they’re vital to uncover exact sequence of failures .

  • DGCA has ordered immediate inspections of all Boeing 787 Dreamliners in India

  • Air India & Boeing are cooperating; Air India ramping up safety audits, and Boeing issuing additional support, amid mounting scrutiny .

 

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