Ahmedabad Air India plane crash: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has a history of technical issues
An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, flight AI-171, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport en route to London Gatwick with 242 people onboard. The aircraft issued a MAYDAY call before the crash, raising concerns about potential technical failures. Investigations are underway, focusing on the aircraft's history of technical issues and manufacturing shortcuts previously alleged by a Boeing whistleblower.
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Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Had a History of Technical Issues
An Air India flight operating from Ahmedabad to London crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, according to the Gujarat State Police Control Room. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, totaling 242 people on board.The flight, AI-171, was bound for London Gatwick and departed from Runway 23 at 1:39 PM IST. As per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the plane issued a MAYDAY call immediately after takeoff but failed to respond to further air traffic control communications. The aircraft crashed just outside the airport perimeter, and thick black smoke was seen rising from the wreckage.The aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with over 8,200 hours of flying experience, assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged around 1,100 hours.Air India confirmed the incident in a statement posted on its official X handle: 'Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. We are ascertaining details and will share further updates at the earliest via http://airindia.com and our official social media.'The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner model has faced recurring technical scrutiny in recent years. A previous Economic Times report documented repeated diversions of a Dreamliner with registration code N819AN due to hydraulic leaks and flap malfunctions, leading to multiple flight cancellations in a span of just 25 days earlier this year.In addition, Boeing engineer and whistleblower Sam Salehpour had earlier raised alarms in major U.S. outlets like The New York Times and CNN, alleging that the company took manufacturing shortcuts on both the 777 and 787 Dreamliner models. Salehpour warned that such compromises could pose catastrophic risks as these aircraft age.Investigations into the cause of Thursday's crash are ongoing. The DGCA, Boeing, and Air India are expected to conduct detailed inquiries into both the immediate technical failure and the aircraft's maintenance history.
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