Tragedy struck western India on Thursday when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed just seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew, went down in a residential neighborhood, igniting a fireball. Only one person reportedly survived the flight, making it the deadliest plane crash in recent years and the first fatal incident involving a Dreamliner. However, several outlets have reported multiple casualties at the site where the aircraft crashed.
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The doomed jet had been in service since January 2014, after its first flight in December 2013. Air India operated 34 Dreamliners and had plans for more. The 787-8 is a favored widebody aircraft for long-haul routes, with over 1,100 in service globally.
Flightradar24 reported that the aircraft lost signal at 1:38 p.m. local time, less than a minute after takeoff, reaching only 625 feet. The cause remains unknown.
“It appears the airplane got off the runway with no problem, but for some reason was unable to climb,” said Jeff Guzzetti, a former FAA and NTSB safety investigator. He noted it’s “too early to tell what the problem—or problems — is.”
Investigators are now focused on recovering black boxes to examine flight data and cockpit recordings. Boeing, engine maker GE Aerospace, and U.S. crash officials will assist Indian authorities in the probe. While Boeing’s 787 has faced past quality issues, Guzzetti stated, “I don’t think this is a manufacturing or production issue.”
A full report could take a year to complete.
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