Air India crash a grim first for Boeing's Dreamliner – and raises serious questions

Editor's note: Abhishek G Bhaya, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a senior journalist and international affairs commentator. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Aviation is built on the foundations of precision, regulation and public trust. On June 12, that trust was shaken when an Air India Flight AI171 – a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner – en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick – plunged into a densely populated neighborhood just minutes after takeoff, erupting into a fiery inferno, leaving all those on board dead, reports said.

The crash is not only one of the worst aviation disasters in recent Indian history, but also marks the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, shattering the aircraft's near-flawless safety record.

The aircraft carried 232 passengers and 10 crew members, including a number of foreign nationals and prominent Indian figures, reportedly including the former chief minister of Gujarat state, Vijay Rupani. Tragically, the latest report of confirming all 242 people on board dead makes this a dark day not just for India, but for global aviation.

A catastrophe in a city awash with fire and shock

Eyewitness footage from the Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad shows the aircraft  –  piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar – struggling to gain altitude before issuing a mayday call. The jet reportedly descended at 475 feet per minute after reaching just 625 feet, slamming into a residential zone near a doctors' hostel. The resulting fireball engulfed buildings, sparked widespread panic, and mobilized an emergency response on an unprecedented scale.

With over 1,200 hospital beds prepared, a green corridor activated for ambulances, and multiple National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and firefighting teams deployed, the tragedy has highlighted not just the vulnerability of urban airspace, but also the resilience and quick response ability of India's emergency infrastructure.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed key ministers to the site, and global leaders – including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer – have extended condolences. Yet, beyond grief, there is rising pressure for accountability and answers.

A sobering first for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Since entering service in 2011, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner had earned its reputation as a safe, efficient, and technologically advanced wide-body aircraft. With more than 1,100 units delivered and over a billion passengers flown, the Dreamliner had managed to avoid a single fatal crash – until now.

This incident involving Air India's aircraft VT-ANB is not just the first fatality – it is the first total hull loss accident for the model, putting Boeing back under a spotlight it hoped to leave behind after years of technical controversy.

The aviation world still remembers the LATAM Airlines mid-air dive in March 2024, triggered by a faulty seat-switch mechanism, which injured dozens but claimed no lives. This time, the cost appears far greater.

History of innovation – and repeated warnings

Despite its promise, the Dreamliner's track record includes a worrying pattern of technical and manufacturing problems:

Engine failures: Between 2016 and 2020, Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines – used on many Dreamliners – were plagued by blade corrosion and fuel leaks, leading to groundings.

Battery fires: In 2013, lithium-ion battery fires grounded the global 787 fleet. Boeing redesigned its battery systems, but the incident dented early confidence in the jet.

Production shortcomings: Boeing paused Dreamliner deliveries for nearly two years starting in 2020 after quality control lapses at its South Carolina plant. Whistleblowers accused the company of manufacturing shortcuts, leading to congressional inquiries and FAA scrutiny.

Each of these issues was fixed in due course. But now, the Ahmedabad crash raises a chilling question: Did the aviation world move on too quickly from past concerns?

What comes next?

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched parallel investigations. Boeing has pledged full support, but has yet to release any initial assessment. With the aircraft having been fully fueled for a long-haul flight, the ensuing fire may obscure early clues.

The global aviation industry now waits for crucial data from the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder. But public trust – especially in the Dreamliner program – may take far longer to restore.

A turning point for aviation oversight?

As Boeing's stock reels from investor anxiety, and as families across four continents grieve, this tragedy should serve as a moment of reckoning – not just for a single aircraft, but for the entire aviation ecosystem.

The Dreamliner was hailed as the future of flight. That future is now in question. How the world responds – through transparency, reform, and accountability – will define whether this is remembered merely as a tragic anomaly, or a turning point in the story of global aviation safety.

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