On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The disaster resulted in the deaths of 241 of the 242 people on board, with ground casualties reported between 19 and 33, according to varying official estimates. The incident, which marked the first fatal crash of a Boeing 787, has prompted extensive investigations and heightened scrutiny of aviation safety protocols in India.
Air India, India’s national carrier, confirmed the near-total loss of life on board and expressed condolences. The airline, acquired by the Tata Group in 2022, announced compensation of 1 crore Indian rupees (approximately $115,000 at 2025 exchange rates) for the families of each deceased individual, including ground victims. Final payouts will adhere to Indian law and international aviation conventions.
A preliminary AAIB report, issued in July 2025, identified a critical issue: two switches controlling the fuel supply to the aircraft’s engines were toggled almost simultaneously after takeoff, briefly starving both engines of fuel. The cause of this anomaly, whether mechanical failure, human error, or another factor, remains under investigation. The Indian government established a high-level committee to analyze the crash’s causes and propose enhanced standard operating procedures to prevent future incidents.
Incident Details
The flight, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, lost altitude moments after departing Ahmedabad. A brief mayday call was issued from the cockpit before the aircraft struck a medical college hostel near the airport, triggering a massive explosion. The passenger manifest included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. The sole survivor, a British national of Indian descent, was rescued from the wreckage. On the ground, the crash caused significant loss of life and multiple injuries, primarily among residents of the hostel.Air India, India’s national carrier, confirmed the near-total loss of life on board and expressed condolences. The airline, acquired by the Tata Group in 2022, announced compensation of 1 crore Indian rupees (approximately $115,000 at 2025 exchange rates) for the families of each deceased individual, including ground victims. Final payouts will adhere to Indian law and international aviation conventions.
Investigation and Preliminary Findings
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), supported by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the United Kingdom’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch, launched a comprehensive probe into the crash. The aircraft’s black boxes, including the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, were recovered within days, though a final report is not expected until mid-2026.A preliminary AAIB report, issued in July 2025, identified a critical issue: two switches controlling the fuel supply to the aircraft’s engines were toggled almost simultaneously after takeoff, briefly starving both engines of fuel. The cause of this anomaly, whether mechanical failure, human error, or another factor, remains under investigation. The Indian government established a high-level committee to analyze the crash’s causes and propose enhanced standard operating procedures to prevent future incidents.
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