Air India Dreamliner Crashes Minutes After Takeoff
There was no heavy rain. No unfavorable weather. Clear skies. Yet, the Air India flight bound for London crashed just minutes after takeoff — an incident that is now creating a huge stir. Authorities are now focusing on determining the cause of this tragic event. On Thursday afternoon, Air India flight AI-171 took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad and crashed within minutes of takeoff. At the time, there were a total of 242 passengers on board. Since the aircraft crashed immediately after takeoff, there are reports of significant property damage and casualties in the nearby areas surrounding the airport. This wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft typically has the capacity to carry up to 300 passengers at once. The crashed flight had been in service for the past eleven years.
As it was a long-distance flight from Ahmedabad to London, it was carrying a large amount of fuel. Immediately after the accident, massive flames erupted. Officials stated that shortly after takeoff, the pilots issued a mayday call to Air Traffic Control (ATC). A mayday call indicates that the aircraft is in serious danger. Before ATC personnel could communicate further with the pilots, a major disaster had already occurred. With the Air India Dreamliner meeting with such a horrific accident, the debate over Boeing aircraft has once again come to the forefront. In the past, there were several reports highlighting major technical issues in these aircraft. However, such a large-scale accident is being reported for the first time. This 787 Dreamliner is capable of flying nonstop for up to 13,530 kilometers. These aircraft are mostly used on long-distance routes.
In the past, a whistleblower made sensational allegations that Boeing's 777 and 787 aircraft had numerous technical issues. They warned that these problems could lead to serious accidents in the long run. However, Boeing dismissed these allegations, claiming that all their aircraft are manufactured in accordance with regulations and equipped with all necessary safety measures. Officials now say that the actual reasons behind this crash may not be known until the flight’s black box is analyzed. Upon learning of the Air India flight crash, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan immediately departed for Ahmedabad.
