A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plummets 1.5 km from Ahmedabad runway, killing 241 onboard and many on ground, sparking a global probe.
Ahmedabad, June 13: A nightmare unfolded. Air India Flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick, crashed mere seconds after takeoff on Thursday afternoon. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, aloft for just 30 seconds, slammed into a residential area near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Of the 242 aboard, 241 perished. Ground casualties added to the toll, leaving a city in shock. The cause remains a puzzle, with Indian, US, and UK experts set to unravel the tragedy.
A Perilous Takeoff
The clock struck 1:39 p.m. Captain Sumit Sabarwal and co-pilot Clive Kundar, with a combined 9,000 flight hours, guided the plane down the runway. Laden with 100 tons of fuel for the long haul, the jet struggled to climb. A “mayday call” crackled from the cockpit, then silence. CCTV footage, verified by BBC, shows the aircraft reaching only 625 feet before dipping behind trees and exploding. “It fought to rise,” whispered an eyewitness, tears in his eyes.
Expert Theories Emerge
Aviation experts are baffled. The 787-8, launched in 2011, had never faced a fatal crash until now. Some pilots, speaking anonymously, suggest a rare double engine failure. “No time to react if both engines die,” said one. Others point to a bird strike, citing Ahmedabad’s 462 recorded incidents over five years, per the Civil Aviation Ministry’s 2023 data. Times of India reported 38 collisions in 2022-23 alone. “Birds are always around,” warned expert Mohan Ranganathan.
Flaps or Fate?
Another theory haunts investigators. Did misconfigured flaps doom the flight? Flaps, crucial for lift during takeoff, may have been improperly set, especially with a fully fueled jet facing 40°C heat. “A small error in such conditions can be deadly,” a pilot told BBC. Yet, the 787’s warning system should have alerted the crew. “This would be a rare human mistake,” said former pilot Marco Chan, urging caution until black box data emerges.
A Nation Searches for Answers
The wreckage lies scattered, a grim reminder of lost lives. GE Aerospace and Boeing pledge support, while the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau digs for clues. Families wait, hearts heavy. “The plane was our hope,” sobbed a relative. As the probe deepens, Ahmedabad mourns, clinging to memories amid the debris.