Ahmedabad Air India 787 Crash Analysis: Key Causes and Lessons for Flight Safety

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By Deepak Kumar

Introduction: A Personal Reflection

Early on June 12, 2025, the news of an Air India Boeing 787-8 crashing shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad shook me deeply. As someone who often travels for work, Ahemdabad was workplace of mine and cherishes the safety of flight, reading reports and seeing footage left me with a heavy heart. My aim with this post is to lay the facts—acknowledging the lives affected—while providing an informed analysis of what may have gone wrong, based on initial reports and expert commentary. Through this, I also hope to highlight lessons for aviation safety and reassure readers about ongoing investigation processes.

Incident Overview: What Happened?

On the morning of June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed minutes after lifting off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The aircraft reportedly struggled to gain altitude and made a mayday call before descending into a residential area, causing tragic loss of life and property damage. Early police reports indicated over 200 fatalities, though official numbers may be refined as rescue operations continue.

Possible Contributing Factors

1. Loss of Thrust / Engine Performance

Preliminary analysis and expert statements have pointed to insufficient engine thrust during the critical takeoff-climb phase. Videos circulating on news channels showed the aircraft unable to accelerate beyond a lower-than-required speed, suggesting potential engine underperformance or sudden power loss shortly after leaving the runway. In hot weather and at heavy takeoff weight, any reduction in thrust margin can be catastrophic.

2. Aircraft Configuration (Flaps, Slats, Gear)

Several experts noted indications that the landing gear appeared extended longer than normal and that wing lift devices (flaps/slats) may not have been optimally set for climb. Improper retraction or misconfiguration increases drag and reduces lift, severely limiting climb performance—especially on a fully loaded Dreamliner departing in high temperatures. Such configuration errors, whether due to checklist oversight or system malfunction, are critical to verify via flight data recorders.

3. Weight & Environmental Conditions

Flight AI171 carried 242 people, full fuel for the long-haul to London, and cargo, all under warm Ahmedabad conditions. High ambient temperatures reduce air density, which in turn reduces engine thrust and wing lift. When combined with any misconfiguration or marginal engine performance, the safety buffer narrows. Investigators will examine takeoff weight calculations, fuel load, and ambient data logs to see if performance margins were below expected thresholds.

4. Sudden Anomalies or Technical Failures

Reports from safety engineering experts suggest that whatever anomaly occurred did so very late in the takeoff roll or immediately after liftoff, leaving the flight crew minimal time to react. This could stem from abrupt engine malfunction, sensor failures feeding incorrect data to flight computers, or hydraulic/actuator issues affecting control surfaces. Recovering FDR/CVR (“black boxes”) is paramount to pinpoint exactly what warnings, alerts, or cockpit communications took place.

5. Human Factors and Crew Response

While mechanical factors appear significant, human factors also merit careful scrutiny. Investigators will review crew training records, adherence to standard operating procedures, checklist usage, and decision-making timelines. In emergencies during takeoff, fractions of seconds matter, so any delay in identifying or responding to warnings can influence outcome. However, one must be cautious not to prematurely assign blame before thorough data analysis.

The Investigation Process: How Will We Know the Truth?

1. Recovery of Black Boxes: The flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) hold critical parameters—engine thrust readings, flap/gear positions, airspeed, altitude, warnings logs, and cockpit communications. International teams (DGCA, AIB, NTSB) will collaborate to download and analyze these data.
2. Maintenance Records Review: Investigators will examine the aircraft’s recent maintenance history, engine inspections, software updates, and any deferred defects or service bulletins.
3. Pilot Records & Training: Crew duty logs, training syllabi, simulator sessions related to engine failures or configuration anomalies during takeoff will be reviewed.
4. Environmental & Airport Data: Runway conditions, weather data (temperature, pressure), possible obstacles, and air traffic control transcripts will be part of the comprehensive review.
5. Witness & Video Analysis: Ground cameras and eyewitness footage help reconstruct the aircraft’s attitude and behavior immediately after liftoff.

Flight Safety Lessons and Industry Implications

• Revisiting Takeoff Procedures: Airlines globally may reinforce protocols for configuration checks, cross-verifying flap and gear status alarms, especially under high-weight/hot conditions.
• Engine Health Monitoring: Enhanced real-time engine performance monitoring systems could provide earlier alerts to crews when thrust deviates from expected parameters.
• Training for Rapid Response: Simulator scenarios replicating sudden anomalies during late takeoff roll or initial climb can prepare crews to identify and act decisively.
• Regulatory Oversight: Aviation authorities may issue advisory circulars or safety recommendations to operators of similar aircraft about managing “marginal performance” departures.
• Passenger Communication: In tragic events, transparent, timely updates help families and public understand the process; industry must balance sensitivity with factual clarity.

Empathy and Support

Beyond technical analysis, my heart goes out to the families and communities affected in Ahmedabad. Such events reinforce the vulnerability inherent in air travel, even as flying remains statistically the safest mode of transport. I encourage readers to support relief efforts (donate to verified funds, volunteer if possible) and to honor the memory of victims by advocating for continued safety improvements.

Conclusion: Moving Forward with Knowledge and Compassion

While the facts will only be certain once investigators release their final report, the current indicators point to a combination of thrust loss and configuration issues under demanding operational conditions. As this investigation unfolds, we must resist speculation and instead focus on evidence-based findings. Aviation, as an industry, learns from each incident—transforming tragedy into safer skies. By sharing informed insights, I hope to contribute constructively to that process.

Call to Action

• Share this post if you found it insightful, so more readers understand the complexities behind such incidents.
• Comment with your thoughts or questions; I’ll update this article as new, verified information emerges.
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References & Further Reading

• Reuters: “At least 30 killed as Air India plane with 242 on board crashes near Ahmedabad”
• WSJ: “Boeing Crash in India Likely Killed All 242 on Board, Authorities Say”
• Economic Times: “Air India plane crash: Safety Engineering expert weighs in”
• The Times (UK): “What could have caused the Air India plane crash?”
• Economic Times: “Ahmedabad plane crash: What we know about the Air India flight”
• Al Jazeera: “Catastrophic Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad – What we know”

*Note: All data and preliminary analysis are as of June 12, 2025. This post will be updated when the final investigation report is released.*