Air India Flight AI171 Crash in Ahmedabad: Over 30 Dead, Black Box Under Investigation

Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025 — Tragedy continues to unfold following the crash of Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which went down just minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport en route to London Gatwick.

📉 Casualties & Damage

• Fatalities: At least 30–35 bodies have been recovered from the crash site within a doctors’ hostel building, with officials warning that the toll may climb significantly cbsnews.com+13reuters.com+13m.economictimes.com+13.

• The Guardian reports a recovery of over 30 bodies, while Indian authorities confirm multiple fatalities .

• Passengers & Crew: 242 individuals were aboard — 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, 7 Portuguese, 1 Canadian, and 12 crew members aljazeera.com+15ft.com+15indiatoday.in+15.

• The aircraft collided with a doctors’ hostel at BJ Medical College in Meghani Nagar, leading to extensive structural damage and fires economictimes.indiatimes.com+15ft.com+15theguardian.com+15.

• Numerous injured survivors are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals, with trauma teams mobilized at Civil Hospital and other local centres reuters.com+1nypost.com+1.

🔍 What Might Have Gone Wrong

1. MAYDAY & Altitude Drop

Shortly after takeoff from Runway 23 at around 1:38–1:39 PM IST, the crew issued a MAYDAY distress call. Radar data shows the aircraft reached only 625–800 feet before rapidly descending and losing contact with air traffic control reuters.com+5ft.com+5indianexpress.com+5.

2. Heavy Fuel Load

The aircraft was fully fueled for its long-haul flight to London, heightening the intensity of post-crash fires upon impact thetimes.co.uk+5en.wikipedia.org+5timesofindia.indiatimes.com+5.

3. Potential Technical Fault

This incident marks the first-ever hull loss of a Boeing 787. Though general safety record remains strong, this particular aircraft was 11 years old, delivered in 2014 barrons.com. Prior technical issues with the Dreamliner have resurfaced as concerns barrons.com+2reuters.com+2indiatimes.com+2.

4. Collision with Airport Structures

Eyewitnesses and early reports suggest the jet may have struck the airport perimeter wall or nearby high-rise structures in its low-altitude trajectory cbsnews.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2m.economictimes.com+2.

5. Black Box Recovery

Investigators from the DGCA and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are prioritizing black box retrieval, believed to be critical in revealing technical data and flight crew communications during the final moments indiatoday.in+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1.

⚖️ Investigation & Response

• DGCA and AAIB, with technical support from Boeing and Air India, have launched a full-scale probe, reviewing radar logs, maintenance history, and ATC communications .

• Political leaders including PM Narendra Modi, UK PM Keir Starmer, and other international leaders have expressed deep condolences people.com+6ft.com+6timesofindia.indiatimes.com+6.

• Emergency personnel — including over 100 rescuers from the NDMA, NDRF, Indian Army, and Coast Guard — were deployed swiftly to assist in search-and-rescue operations indiatoday.in+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1.

🔮 What to Expect Next

• Casualty updates: Officials warn that fatalities may rise as recovery efforts continue.

• Preliminary findings: Mindful of the 787’s notable safety record, investigators will proceed cautiously, steering clear of speculation until black box analysis is complete. A report is anticipated within a week.

• Operational disruptions: Ahmedabad airport has reopened with limited flights, but reviews of safety protocols, especially around densely populated flight paths, are expected.

This crash is a harrowing milestone — the first crash of a Boeing 787 and one of the most significant aviation disasters in India in recent years. Aviation authorities now face critical questions: Were there latent technical flaws? Did operational oversight play a role? Public confidence and regulatory scrutiny both hang in the balance as the investigation presses on.