Why Air India renamed flight AI-171 after the crash
After Air India flight AI-171 crashed just minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad, the airline changed its number to AI-159. But this isn't the first time a flight has been renamed after a tragedy. From MH370 to Lion Air JT610, here's why airlines do it — and what it means.
#AirIndia #PlaneCrash #AviationNews #FlightNumberChange #MH370 #JT610 #Dreamliner #AI171 #AI159 #Explainer #AviationFacts
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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Human error? engine fault? Air India chairman urges patience amid AI171 crash theories
Tata Sons and Air India chairman N Chandrasekaran on Wednesday said that the ill-fated Air India flight AI171, which crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12 killing over 270 people, had no prior red flags, and both its engines were in good condition. Calling it an 'extremely difficult situation', he added that investigators must wait for the black box analysis to uncover the truth. An Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner headed for London with 242 passengers including crew onboard, crashed into a medical college complex in Ahmedabad seconds after takeoff on June 12. The crash killed 241 of the 241 passengers onboard and several others on ground. 'It is an extremely difficult situation where I have no words to express to console any of the families of those who died,' Chandrasekaran said, in an interview with Times Now, and extended apologies over the tragedy. 'I deeply regret that this accident happened in a Tata-run airline. And I feel very sorry. All we can do is to be with the families at this time, grieve with them and we will do everything to support them at this hour and beyond,' Chandrasekaran said in a statement. When asked about the possible causes of the accident and whether Air India had any initial findings, he said, 'One would have to wait for the probe to conclude.' The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is currently leading the investigation, with a high-level government-appointed committee also involved. Chandrasekaran indicated that preliminary findings could take up to a month. On the pilots' credentials, Chandrasekaran stated, 'Both pilots were exceptional. Captain Sabharwal had more than 11,500 hours of flying experience, the first officer Clive (Kundar) had more than 3,400 hours of flying experience. What I hear from colleagues is that they were excellent pilots and great professionals. So, we can't jump to any conclusions. I am told by all the experts that the black box and recorders will definitely tell the story. So, we just have to wait for that.' Addressing various theories around the crash, Tata Sons' chairman said, 'There are speculation about human error, speculation about airlines, speculation about engines, maintenance, all kinds.' He emphasised that the aircraft had no history of issues and provided engine details: the right engine was newly installed in March 2025, while the left engine had last been serviced in 2023 and was due for maintenance in December 2025. Responding to questions about previous show-cause notices and penalties imposed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Chandrasekaran clarified that these were unrelated to the crashed aircraft. 'These are different from safety issues. If there is a safety issue, there is no way the DGCA will allow us to fly,' he said. Responding to former civil aviation minister Praful Patel's comments questioning Singapore Airlines' silence, Chandrasekaran said, 'Singapore Airlines has been a great partner... their CEO is in constant touch with me... they have been offering all the help they can.' He also addressed concerns over Boeing's manufacturing practices following whistleblower allegations, saying, 'These are things that are being dealt with by investigative agencies in the US... we have not had any red flags in our checks.' Amid reports of a Turkish maintenance link, Chandrasekaran firmly denied it, stating, 'None of them (the 33 Dreamliners) are maintained by Turkish Technic. Most of them are maintained by AIESL (AI Engineering Services Limited) or SIA Engineering Company.' Following the crash, multiple Air India flights have faced delays or cancellations, sparking customer dissatisfaction. Chandrasekaran acknowledged the need for better communication, stating, 'We've got to do a better job at communication. We have put a strategic communications team in the last three days.' He confirmed meetings with senior executives at Boeing and GE, saying, 'I did connect with both Boeing and GE at the highest levels... I have asked them to check and tell us if there have been issues with any of the aircraft or engines.' The June 12 crash remains one of the deadliest in India's aviation history. (With PTI inputs)
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Air India Black Box Headed to US
The Centre will send the black box of the crashed Air India Boeing 787 aircraft to the US for analysis. The recorder sustained heavy external damage from the conflagration after the crash, making it impossible for local investigators to extract data, people aware of the development told ET. They said entries from the digital flight data recorder (DFDR) would be extracted in the Washington-based laboratory of the National Safety Transport Board. The data would be shared with India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Under international rules, the state of occurrence is responsible for the crash investigation. 'While AAIB had established a laboratory at its headquarters in New Delhi, it is not yet properly equipped to extract data from recorders that have sustained heavy damage,' said an official aware of the process. 'The NTSB team will carry them to their lab under protection and supervision from Indian officials to ensure proper protocols are followed,' the official said. The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch will also be present, as 53 British citizens were among those killed in the June 12 crash. The Air India aircraft crashed seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad airport, killing 241 on board the aircraft and 33 on the ground. The two units — FDR and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) — are together called the black box. Painted bright orange, they are designed to survive extreme conditions and are located near the tail, which faces least impact during a crash. Notably, heavy damage is not common when an aircraft catches fire due to a crash. Black box data is crucial in probing the crash. FDR would give insights into multiple technical parameters, such as timing, altitude and airspeed. CVR holds crucial audio recordings from the cockpit, including pilot conversations and ambient noises, such as any warning message from the electronic systems. The official cited earlier said the time taken to extract data from the recorder could range from two days to months, depending on the extent of the damage. 'Since the recorder has been damaged, the chip will need to be extracted by removing the memory board so there is no further damage to data. The electronic circuit will have to be assessed for damage,' he said. Investigators are examining multiple possibilities — whether the flaps on the ill-fated aircraft's wings were properly extended, and why its landing gear was down. They are looking at failure of the electronic systems, or fuel contamination, both of which could potentially have caused the engines to shut down. Air crashes are caused by multiple failures and early hypotheses are often ruled out in course of lengthy and technical investigations. The 787, like any modern aircraft, has been built with multiple redundancies, meaning there are duplications of critical components or systems to enhance reliability and make the aircraft failsafe. For instance, the plane has demonstrated capability to fly for 345 minutes with a single engine, as well as numerous system failures.
India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
New aviation rules to demolish obstructions near airports after Air India crash
In the aftermath of the Air India crash, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has released new draft rules to tighten control over structures that pose risks to aircraft draft, titled Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions) Rules, 2025, was issued on June 18 and will come into force once published in the Official rules seek to empower authorities to act swiftly against buildings and trees that violate height restrictions in notified aerodrome zones. These measures are being seen as a direct move to prevent future accidents caused by flight path Under the draft, any structure found violating the prescribed height limits may be served a notice by the officer-in-charge of an aerodrome. Owners must submit detailed information - including structure dimensions and site plans - within sixty days. Failure to comply could result in enforcement action, including demolition or height the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) or an authorised officer confirms a violation, they may issue an order directing the owner to demolish the structure or cut the tree. The order must be complied with within sixty days. A second sixty-day extension may be granted only on valid physical verification, officers are empowered to enter the premises during daylight hours after informing the owner. In cases of non-cooperation, officers may proceed based on available information and refer the matter to the the event of non-compliance, the officer-in-charge must report the case to the District Collector, who is required to carry out the demolition or trimming as per the order. This process will follow the same procedure used for removing unauthorised have the right to appeal orders with the First or Second Appellate Officer. Appeals must be filed in the prescribed form along with supporting documents and a fee of Rs 1,000. However, only those who comply with the orders may claim compensation under section 22 of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024. Any new non-compliant structures built after the notification will not be eligible for Civil Aviation Ministry has invited objections or suggestions from the public within twenty days of the notification's publication. Responses may be sent to the Director-General of Civil Watch
