Air India plane crash probe: what we know about the cause
Authorities examine wreckage, flight data and pilot calls after AI171 disaster
DUBAI: Investigators are probing one of the deadliest air disasters in Indian aviation history after Air India Flight AI171 crashed minutes after take-off from Ahmedabad on Wednesday, killing at least 290 people.
The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner slammed into a hostel block at BJ Medical College shortly after departure, killing 241 people onboard and at least 28 on the ground, according to Gulf News and hospital officials cited by CNN. The sole survivor, a British national of Indian origin, remains in hospital.
India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed that a full investigation is underway. Black box data is being recovered and analysed as global experts assist with what is expected to be a complex inquiry into why a relatively new aircraft failed within seconds of take-off.
What happened to AI171?
Flight AI171 departed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm local time en route to London Gatwick. Within seconds of liftoff, the aircraft struggled to gain altitude. CCTV and eyewitness footage show the plane flying unusually low with landing gear still extended – an indication it had not climbed properly.
According to air traffic control audio, the crew issued a “Mayday” distress call moments before the crash. The aircraft then lost altitude rapidly and slammed into a multi-storey hostel block occupied by medical students and hospital staff. A massive fire engulfed the area, hampering rescue efforts for nearly an hour.
What do investigators know so far?
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is leading the probe, assisted by teams from Boeing, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), General Electric (GE Aerospace), and Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). Officials confirmed that one of the plane’s two black box recorders has been recovered and is undergoing analysis.
Preliminary radar and flight path data point to a significant loss of lift after take-off. Experts believe the engines were underpowered in the first 20–30 seconds of flight. “Based on analysis of the video, experts said [the plane] experienced meagre thrust soon after,” NDTV reported.
Some analysts have raised the possibility of an engine malfunction, loss of thrust, or even a bird strike, though all remain speculative at this stage. Cockpit voice recordings and flight data logs are expected to provide clarity in the coming days.
Who is involved in the investigation?
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is coordinating with the AAIB and international partners. Boeing CEO David Calhoun cancelled his scheduled appearance at the Paris Air Show and dispatched senior engineering and safety teams to Ahmedabad. GE Aerospace has sent engine specialists, while the US Federal Aviation Administration and the UK Civil Aviation Authority have both confirmed technical support.
A multi-agency panel of aviation and safety experts has been constituted to assist with the on-ground investigation and coordinate recovery of aircraft debris.
Possible causes: thrust loss or engine failure?
No official cause has been confirmed, but video analysis shows the aircraft flying unusually low with gear extended, consistent with loss of power or lift. Witnesses described the aircraft descending slowly before nosediving into the building.
One aviation consultant told The Guardian: “If you didn’t know what was happening, you would think that plane was on approach to a runway – not taking off.”
Investigators will reconstruct the final moments using black box data, structural examination of engine parts, and ATC communication to determine if mechanical failure, human error, or environmental factors were involved.