Air India Flight 171 Crash: What Really Happened in the Final Seconds
In one of the most devastating aviation incidents in India’s recent history, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, killing nearly everyone on board. As investigations continue, a clearer picture is emerging—thanks in part to video footage, audio evidence, and expert analysis. While definitive answers may still be months away, what we know already provides chilling insights into what went wrong in those final moments.
At first glance, the takeoff of Flight 171 appeared routine. The aircraft used the correct runway length, flaps and slats were likely extended to generate lift, and flight path data shows that the point of lift-off matched previous takeoffs from the same airport. Experts who analyzed the CCTV footage and satellite data confirmed that the aircraft’s initial climb was typical—nothing seemed unusual until seconds after becoming airborne.
However, trouble soon emerged. One of the earliest signs was the landing gear failing to fully retract. A video from a nearby rooftop showed the gear stuck in a tilted, downward position. This could suggest a hydraulic or electrical failure that prevented the landing gear from locking into the fuselage. Though not immediately catastrophic, this added drag would’ve increased stress on the aircraft during a critical phase of flight.
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Even more troubling, audio from the crash video revealed a distinct mechanical whine—recognized by aviation experts as the deployment of the emergency ram air turbine. This device is only triggered when there's a significant loss of power—be it hydraulic, electrical, or engine-related. A detailed analysis found the sound to be over 97% consistent with other turbine deployments, pointing toward a mid-air systems failure.
Importantly, the plane didn’t show signs of swerving, which would normally happen if only one engine failed. The flight path stayed straight, which suggests both engines may have lost thrust simultaneously—something aviation professionals call extremely rare. Fuel contamination or a flawed system input before takeoff are among the possible explanations being investigated.
Despite the severity of the event and the presence of global aviation experts on-site, India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has shared few concrete details. It took nearly two weeks just to begin analyzing flight recorders. That delay has sparked concern among industry veterans who argue that basic factual updates should have already been available, especially with such significant international support on the ground.
What’s more, wreckage photos indicate that slats on the wings were extended when the plane hit the ground—further proof that takeoff procedures had been followed properly. Burn marks on the wings confirm this position, showing that the aircraft maintained a standard configuration until the very end.
As data from the black boxes is finally being processed in a Delhi lab, we may soon gain crucial insights. For now, what we do know paints a picture of a sudden, catastrophic systems failure that left little room for recovery. The loss of Air India Flight 171 will likely change how such aircraft systems are monitored and maintained moving forward, but the true cause may take weeks—or months—to fully uncover.
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