The aviation world was shaken by tragic news on June 12, Independence Day in the Philippines. An Air India Boeing 787-8 flight AI171 crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport, bound for London Gatwick. There were 242 individuals on board, and sadly, only one survived.
At this time, numerous speculations about the crash are circulating on social media. However, I strongly recommend allowing the investigation to proceed before drawing any conclusions. In addition to the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), investigators will examine various factors, including debris, witness and survivor testimonials, weather conditions, and much more.
AI171 what we know so far
Here’s what we know so far about the crash of flight AI171 based on reports and data from trackers.
- The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-8, registered as VT-ANB, with a Manufacturer’s Serial Number (MSN) of 36279. It was delivered to Air India in January 2014, making it just over 11.5 years old.
- There was only one survivor, a passenger seated in seat 11A. According to Aerolopa, seat 11A on a Boeing 787-8 is located in an emergency exit row. The survivor is reported to be in stable condition.
- The passenger recounted hearing a loud “noise” (not a bang) before the incident occurred, stating that everything happened so quickly after that.
- As per Flightradar24, flight AI171 took off from Ahmedabad at 08:08:44 UTC and reached a highest recorded altitude of 625 feet at 08:08:46 before beginning to descend.
- The plane crashed into a doctor’s housing complex within a medical facility. The investigation is being led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and will include a review of flight data, maintenance history, and structural records. Assistance has been confirmed from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and multiple reports indicate that the UK’s AAIB has also offered help.
- India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the crew issued a MAYDAY call moments after takeoff, though no further communication was received.
- Data from Flightradar24 indicates that flight AI171 departed using the full length of Runway 23 at Ahmedabad, which is approximately 3,500 meters long. According to pilots, a Boeing 787-8 typically requires only 2,538 meters of runway for takeoff.
- From videos, it appears that the engines were operational, as dust was being blown after takeoff, which usually indicates that there was thrust.
That’s all the information available at this time, and I hope the investigation will be thorough and impartial. It’s essential to remember that air crashes can be caused by various factors, including weather, human error, mechanical failure, or a combination of these elements. All these factors are examined as the investigation into the crash of flight AI171 continues.
For now, all I can offer are my thoughts and prayers for the lives lost and their families and loved ones left behind.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
