Air India 171 Crash: Tragedy in the Skies, Questions on the Ground
The aviation world has been shaken to its core after the devastating crash of Air India flight AI-171. This tragic incident took place on June 12, when a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed just 32 seconds after takeoff. The aircraft collided with a hostel complex near BJ Medical College, resulting in the heartbreaking loss of 241 lives. Among the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The only survivor was a passenger seated in 11A, whose miraculous escape defies comprehension.
Now, a preliminary investigation report is about to be submitted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. According to officials, this initial report—based on early findings and black box data—will be made public later this week. While the final conclusions are still months away, this report could offer the first real insights into what caused one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent memory.
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In the days following the crash, the black boxes—comprising the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR)—were recovered under challenging circumstances. One was found on the rooftop of a building at the crash site, while the other was located amid the debris days later. The data retrieved from these recorders is now being carefully examined, especially to determine the position of the fuel switches, which might explain whether the engines were accidentally shut down mid-flight.
To understand the event better, Air India training pilots in Mumbai tried to simulate the flight using the exact trim sheet data from AI-171. These simulations included possible electrical failures that might have led to a dual-engine flame-out scenario. However, the pilots were unable to replicate the crash conditions, raising even more questions about what exactly happened during those fatal 32 seconds.
It has also come to light that pilots flying Boeing 787s in India are not specifically trained to handle a dual-engine failure immediately after takeoff, particularly at altitudes under 400 feet. If such a failure occurred in this case, it would have left the crew with barely any time to respond or recover the aircraft.
The AAIB is working closely with international aviation bodies, including the U.S.-based National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Boeing, and GE, along with Indian agencies such as the Indian Air Force and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. This high-level, multinational probe is being conducted under the ICAO Annex 13 guidelines to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation.
As the country awaits the preliminary report, there is a collective hope that the findings will not only clarify the causes behind this tragedy but also lead to critical reforms in aviation safety protocols. The Air India 171 crash is not just a story of technological failure; it’s a painful reminder of the human cost of every shortcoming in our systems. Now, more than ever, the victims and their families deserve answers—and accountability.
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