Air India Boeing 787 Crash Probe Yields Few Early Clues

Investigators have released limited information into what caused the fatal crash of Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that went down shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, killing 241 people onboard and dozens on the ground. The aircraft was en route to London Gatwick and crashed just 30 seconds after liftoff.

Surveillance video confirms the aircraft lifted off near the end of Runway 23, climbed for about 12 seconds, leveled briefly, then entered a steady descent into a residential area approximately one nautical mile from the runway. The landing gear remained deployed throughout the flight.

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the pilots issued a mayday call citing “no thrust,” but subsequent calls from air traffic control received no reply. There were no signs of a bird strike or sudden flight control issues such as abrupt pitch or roll. Investigators have not yet determined whether a mechanical or engine failure played a role.

The flight crew included a line training captain with 8,200 flight hours and a first officer with 1,100 hours, though 787-specific experience was not disclosed. The aircraft, registered VT-ANB, had been in regular service and was powered by GE GEnx engines.

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is leading the probe, with support from U.S. and UK agencies, including the FAA, NTSB, Boeing, GE, and the UK AAIB.

This marks the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787, a model in service since 2011 with over 1,180 deliveries worldwide. The investigation is ongoing.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aviationweek.com

Tags: FlightSafety, SyndicEx250622B

Air India Boeing 787 Crash Probe Yields Few Early Clues

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