New Delhi, June 15 - On June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI171, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, en route to London Gatwick. The aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, collided with a residential area near BJ Medical College, resulting in a catastrophic loss of life. Of the 242 passengers and crew on board, 241 perished, with only one survivor. Additionally, the crash claimed numerous lives on the ground, including at least five medical students in a dining hall at the medical college. The incident, the deadliest aviation disaster in India since 1996, has prompted a rigorous investigation into its causes, with initial focus on the aircraft’s maintenance history and potential mechanical failures.
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According to airline officials, the nearly 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 underwent its last comprehensive maintenance, known as a C-check, in June 2023, conducted by AI Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL). This thorough inspection, which involves detailed checks of the aircraft’s systems and structure, was performed in accordance with regulatory standards. The next scheduled C-check was due in December 2025, indicating the aircraft was within its maintenance cycle at the time of the crash. Furthermore, the right-side engine, part of the aircraft’s GEnx engines manufactured by GE Aerospace, had been overhauled and reinstalled in March 2025. The left-side engine was inspected in April 2025, following the engine manufacturer’s protocols. Officials have stated that no issues were identified with either the engines or the aircraft during these maintenance procedures, suggesting that the plane was deemed airworthy prior to the incident.
The crash has drawn significant attention to the aircraft’s mechanical condition and the broader safety protocols of Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet. In response to the tragedy, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered enhanced safety checks on Air India’s entire fleet of Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft, which totals 33 planes. Air India reported that inspections on nine of these aircraft had been completed by June 14, 2025, with the remaining checks on track to meet the regulator’s timeline. The DGCA’s directive reflects heightened scrutiny of the airline’s maintenance practices, particularly as the investigation, led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) with support from U.S. and U.K. authorities, examines potential issues with engine thrust, wing flaps, and landing gear configuration. The recovery of the flight data recorder from the crash site marks a critical step in analyzing the aircraft’s performance during its brief 30-second flight, though the cockpit voice recorder, which could provide insights into the pilots’ actions, has yet to be located.
GE Aerospace, the engine manufacturer, has pledged full support for the investigation, dispatching a team to India to assist. Boeing, the aircraft’s manufacturer, has also committed to cooperating fully, noting that this was the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its commercial debut in 2011. The investigation is exploring various factors, including possible mechanical failures or configuration errors, though officials have downplayed the likelihood of a bird strike, despite Ahmedabad airport’s history of such incidents. The crash site, a densely populated area with significant damage to buildings, has complicated rescue and recovery efforts, with DNA testing underway to identify victims. As the probe continues, the aviation industry awaits answers to ensure such a tragedy is not repeated.