Air India Flight AI 171: What went Wrong

On June 12, 2025, what should have been a routine international journey turned into one of India’s darkest aviation disasters. Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, plunged into tragedy just seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, leaving the nation in collective mourning and raising critical questions about airline safety.

Bound for London Gatwick, AI 171 took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 PM IST. Aboard were 242 souls—230 passengers and 12 crew members. Just 30 seconds into its ascent, at an altitude of barely 625 feet, the plane issued a "MAYDAY" call. Moments later, the plane suddenly started falling at the rate of -425 feet per minute and crashed into an hostel of BJ Medical College hostel in the heart of Ahmedabad.

The crash led to a massive explosion, igniting a deadly fireball that engulfed parts of the hostel. Most victims on the ground were medical interns and staff who were having lunch in the common mess area. The crash also caused secondary fires in nearby buildings, though they were later brought under control.

The result was apocalyptic—241 lives aboard lost and over 28 killed on the ground, mostly young medical students having lunch. There was only a single survivor, who is a British National, named Viswashkumar Ramesh, who was seated at 11A near Emergency exit and thus was able to get away from the inferno on time.

Eyewitnesses compared the crash impact to an "earthquake" followed by a deafening blast. Locals reported feeling tremors and seeing a thick plume of smoke rising into the sky. Images from the scene showed untouched lunch plates, half-written prescriptions, and charred stethoscopes—a haunting snapshot of how abruptly life can change.

So what actually went wrong?

Although the exact cause of the crash remains uncertain amid an ongoing multinational investigation, early evidence and historical precedents allow us to explore several plausible factors that may have contributed to this catastrophic failure. Below, we examine each possibility based on preliminary data, aircraft behavior, and known vulnerabilities of similar aviation incidents.

Mechanical or Engine Failure

Preliminary telemetry from the aircraft and from the video of aircraft, it is concluded that aircraft suffered from loss of power and control just seconds into the flight. This possible points to a dual engine failure, given the few historical records of GeNX engines having a core stall problem under specific atmospheric conditions. 100% engine failure at this low altitude is a rare but not an impossible possibility, and If this is the case, then this will be the lowest altitude of dual engine failure in the history of aviation.

Loss of Control

Preliminary telemetry from the aircraft and from the video of aircraft, it is concluded that aircraft suffered from loss of power and control just seconds into the flight. This possible points to a dual engine failure and/or Hydraulic Failure. If this is the case, then this will be the lowest altitude of dual engine failure in the history of aviation.

Bird Strike

Although, there are still no remains of any birds(avian) or any foreign object found, the possibility of birds trikes is still not ruled out.

Software Glitch

Although, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner has an excellent record of flight and there have been no crashes involving this plane. Recently other planes of the Boeing such as 737-Max had faulty software which led to numerous plane crashes and loss of so many lives. Due to this, officials are also investigating the possibility of faulty control system which led to unusual pitching/banking and thus led to engine stall.

Pilot Error

The flight was being piloted by Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal who had 8,200 Hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kunder who had 1100 hours of flight experience. Although such experience in Flights is not considered new, Human error has not been ruled out, although the pilots were said to be highly experienced.

The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) were recovered late in the evening and sent for decoding. The investigation is being jointly conducted by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with assistance from Boeing, GE Aerospace, the FAA, and the UK’s AAIB.

This crash marks the first-ever total hull loss of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a model touted for its safety and efficiency. It has cast a serious shadow over Boeing’s safety assurances, which were already under scrutiny following earlier 737 MAX incidents.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Gujarat at the time, immediately visited the crash site and later the hospital treating survivors. In a solemn address, he called it "a tragedy beyond words" and promised a full and transparent investigation. Condolences poured in from across the globe. King Charles III, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, U.S. President Joe Biden, and leaders from France, UAE, Canada, and Australia expressed grief and solidarity with India.

The Tata Group, which owns Air India, issued a heartfelt statement, announced compensation packages for victims’ families, and grounded part of its Dreamliner fleet pending internal inspections. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a nationwide directive to all carriers operating Boeing 787s to conduct immediate maintenance checks and software diagnostics.

This tragedy isn’t just about a failed aircraft. It's about a chain of responsibilities—from airport wildlife management to airline maintenance to manufacturer accountability. It's also about the silent lapses that often go unnoticed until disaster strikes.

Air India Flight AI 171 reminds us of the fragility of trust in air travel, even in the age of automation and digital redundancy. It challenges not just our technical safeguards but our commitment to ethical aviation practices.

To the students who never got to finish their shift,
To the travelers who never reached their destination,
To the crew who gave their all till the end—
May your souls soar higher than any flight ever could.