Air India Dreamliner Crash Sparks Safety Concerns and Fleet Inspections
The tragic crash of Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, just 36 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12 has ignited widespread concern over aircraft safety and operational protocols. The incident, which claimed 304 lives including passengers, crew, and residents on the ground, has prompted an urgent internal audit of Air India’s Dreamliner fleet and disrupted the airline’s long-haul services.
In a letter sent to Maharaja Club members, Air India’s loyalty programme, Managing Director Campbell Wilson sought to reassure customers of the airline’s commitment to safety. Wilson confirmed that the right engine on the crashed aircraft had undergone an overhaul in March 2025, and the left engine had been inspected in April. The aircraft itself had its last major check in June 2023, with another inspection scheduled for December 2025. Both engines reportedly showed no signs of malfunction before the flight.
The aircraft was en route to London Gatwick with 272 people on board, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. It crashed into the Meghani Nagar neighbourhood, hitting a residential building and a student hostel, killing nearly everyone onboard and 33 people on the ground. A widely circulated video captured by a local teenager showed the plane struggling to gain altitude before crashing into the urban zone.
Experts and investigators are currently working with a theory suggesting a double engine failure or a total systems malfunction, indicated by the early deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT). The RAT, a backup power source activated in emergencies, is a strong signal that both engines may have failed. Former aviation investigator Kishore Chinta noted that the Genx-1B engines used on the 787 are monitored by advanced software systems, but mechanical components still require periodic replacement.
Following the crash, Air India grounded its Dreamliner fleet for safety checks. According to Wilson, 26 aircraft have cleared inspections and resumed operations. The airline plans to continue enhanced pre-flight inspections and has temporarily reduced its widebody fleet usage by 15% until mid-July. These safety measures and the concurrent airspace restrictions over parts of West Asia have resulted in significant disruption, including 66 Dreamliner flight cancellations.
Despite these setbacks, Wilson emphasised that safety remains the airline’s top priority. The pilots of AI-171, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, were highly experienced with a combined flying time of 13,400 hours. Their final transmission—“Mayday! Mayday! Thrust not achieved…”—sent just seconds before the crash, paints a grim picture of how quickly the situation deteriorated.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is leading the investigation, assisted by global aviation experts. The black boxes—flight data and cockpit voice recorders—were recovered from the crash site but sustained damage. The extraction of the data will require a delicate process, and Indian officials may accompany the devices if they are sent abroad for analysis.
This incident has raised broader questions about the safety culture and maintenance practices at Air India, which operates a fleet of 128 aircraft, including now 32 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The crash follows Air India’s ambitious fleet expansion plans and comes at a time when the airline is undergoing massive transformation under Tata Group ownership.
Experts have long debated the balance between operational efficiency and uncompromising safety standards. The Genx-1B engines, while technologically advanced, are not immune to failure, especially if mechanical upkeep is compromised. The crash brings renewed focus on engine diagnostics, real-time monitoring systems, and the frequency of manual inspections—factors that must align to ensure passenger safety.
Beyond Air India, this tragedy also shines a spotlight on regulatory oversight. Aviation authorities may now review inspection intervals, maintenance logs, and software diagnostics across the industry. Given India’s growing role in global aviation, there is increasing pressure to meet or exceed international safety standards.
The loss of so many lives in what was intended to be a routine long-haul flight is a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of air travel and the immense responsibility shouldered by airline operators, regulators, and engineers. Until a conclusive cause is determined, Air India must reassure the public through transparency, strict adherence to safety protocols, and cooperation with investigative authorities.
As the nation mourns the loss of AI-171’s passengers and crew, and as families await answers, the aviation sector must pause to assess how such a catastrophic failure occurred despite regular maintenance, advanced engine systems, and experienced pilots. The answers lie within the damaged black boxes, engineering logs, and systemic reviews that follow. But what is certain now is that public confidence must be restored, and that starts with truth, accountability, and unwavering commitment to safety.