In the wake of the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit the site and meet with the injured survivors and their families. The crash, one of India’s worst civil aviation disasters, has left the nation in shock, prompting an urgent investigation into what went wrong with the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that claimed 244 lives, including those on the ground.
Crash impact and rescue efforts
The aircraft, carrying 232 passengers and 10 crew members, crashed into a residential area in Meghani Nagar shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, the flight lost contact with Air Traffic Control minutes after issuing a ‘Mayday’ distress signal. The aircraft barely climbed to 625 feet before plummeting into a medical college hostel, igniting a massive fireball that engulfed parts of the building and nearby structures.
Among the deceased were four medical students and the wife of a doctor residing in the hostel. The only survivor from the flight is a British national of Indian origin who was seated near an emergency exit. He is currently undergoing treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, along with 45 others, mostly UG and PG students injured in the blast. Prime Minister Modi is likely to visit the hospital and the crash site around 8:30 PM on Friday to personally assess the situation and interact with victims and officials.
Investigation and possible causes
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are leading the investigation. A high-level committee has also been formed to ensure a transparent probe in line with international safety standards. Preliminary information suggests that the aircraft’s landing gear was still down during ascent, which may indicate a wing flap malfunction. Other possibilities under examination include overloading and bird strike, though weather has been ruled out as a factor.
Flight data and cockpit voice recorders—the aircraft’s black boxes—have been recovered and are under analysis. Boeing has been informed, and a technical team is expected in India to assist with the probe. This incident marks the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its commercial service began in 2011.
Eyewitnesses described terrifying scenes. Rajeshbhai Patni, an autorickshaw driver, saw the plane explode upon impact, while Sandeep Datani, a coconut vendor 2 km away, rushed to the site after noticing smoke—only to witness another blast erupt.
