Aircraft Mishap on Air India Flight: Latest Info Regarding the Initial Boeing 787 Crash
June 13, 2025 ● 3 min read ● Aviation, Crash
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Get the scoop on the latest Air India crash, straight from the source!
Josh Wood
June 13, 2025
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A Cruel Fate for Flight AI171
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a routine Air India flight turned into a nightmare when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, registered VT-ANB, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. With 242 souls aboard, including 12 crew members, this tragic incident has left the world in sorrow.
The sole survivor, Mr. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, shares a chilling testimony of a loud bang after takeoff, accompanied by the crushing despair of the implausible loss of his brother.
A Brief Fight for Flight
Initial footage reveals a struggle for lift shortly after departing runway 23. The aircraft issued a MAYDAY call, signaling distress, before the disastrous touchdown in the Meghani Nagar residential area at around 13:43, only five minutes into the ill-fated flight. The flight data shows an alarmingly low altitude of 625 feet before impact, according to FlightRadar24 data.
Early Theories
Preliminary evidence hints at an extended landing gear throughout the voyage, suggesting possible engine and subsequent hydraulic failure. This theory gains traction as extended landing gear and retracted flaps at such low altitude are highly irregular, pointing to a possible cascading technical failure or a series of emergency actions by the crew in response to a malfunction.
However, it's crucial to remember that the evidence available is still limited, and definitive conclusions cannot be drawn. The flight data and voice recorders (black boxes) have yet to be recovered, which are crucial for understanding the exact sequence of events leading up to the calamity.
In the Cockpit: Captain Sabharwal and First Officer Kundar
At the helm were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, an experienced Line Training Captain with over 8,200 flying hours under his wings, and First Officer Clive Kundar, boasting 1,100 hours of flight time. The aircraft, beginning its journey on January 21, 2014, was a seasoned traveler, clocking in at over 11 years old.
An Unfortunate First in the Skies
The grim event marks an unwelcome milestone for Boeing's 787-8 Dreamliner fleet, as this is the first-ever hull loss since the type entered service in 2011. Despite the devastating event, the aircraft earned its reputation as one of the safest in the skies, with over 1,175 B787 series aircraft manufactured and nearly 5 million flights covering more than 30 million flight hours.
Air India's Plan for a Safer Future
In an attempt to ensure a brighter future for their fleet, Air India announced plans to invest over $400 million for refurbishing their Boeing 787 fleet by 2027. Just days before the tragedy, VT-ANB underwent recent maintenance and cabin upgrades.
Stay connected for more updates as we delve deeper into the investigation and unravel the mysteries surrounding the mysterious crash of Flight AI171.
References:
- "Air India's Boeing 787 crashes near Ahmedabad airport in India, killing at least 149 people — live updates," CNN, June 13, 2025
- "Air India plane crash: death toll much higher than initial reports," BBC News, June 14, 2025
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- The shocking crash of Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, has sent shockwaves across the aviation industry and general-news circles.
- The aviation industry, finance, politics, crime-and-justice, and transportation sectors are closely monitoring the ongoing investigation into the tragic accident.
- As the world mourns the loss of 242 lives, the fight for answers in this aviation tragedy continues, shedding light on the intricate interplay between national politics and airline safety regulations.
- The finance sector is also watching closely as Air India moves to reinvest in its Boeing 787 fleet following the devastating crash, with potential implications for the values of Dreamliners across the industry.
