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Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Launched in 2011 as a fuel-efficient, technologically advanced aircraft, the Dreamliner became a symbol of Boeing’s engineering prowess.
Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Boeing is still reeling from years of safety scandals, most infamously involving its 737 MAX series.
The crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad marked a grim milestone for global aviation: the first fatal crash and hull loss involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its commercial debut in 2011, according to Boeing’s Statistical Summary of Commercial Jet Airplane Accidents. As per Boeing, there are over 1,175 Dreamliners in service, which account for 2,100 flights each day.
The aircraft, carrying 242 people, including 232 passengers and 10 crew members, was en route to London Gatwick when it crashed just minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The plane slammed into a doctors’ hostel at a nearby medical college, killing several students on the ground while eyewitness footage captured the plane flying unusually low, followed by a fiery explosion at 1:38 PM, with plumes of smoke visible.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s Perfect Record, Now Broken
Until Thursday, the Boeing 787- touted as the future of long-haul flying- had flown over a decade without a single fatal crash. Launched in 2011 as a fuel-efficient, technologically advanced aircraft, the Dreamliner became a symbol of Boeing’s engineering prowess. That record ended tragically in Ahmedabad.
Boeing Under Scrutiny
The incident comes at a time when Boeing is still reeling from years of safety scandals, most infamously involving its 737 MAX series. Between 2018 and 2019, two 737 MAX crashes- Lion Air Flight 610 in Indonesia and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302- killed a total of 346 people, exposing deep flaws in the aircraft’s design and Boeing’s regulatory disclosures.
Those crashes were traced back to a faulty software system known as MCAS, inadequate pilot training and Boeing’s alleged suppression of safety warnings- resulting in criminal investigations, a $2.5 billion settlement and the global grounding of the MAX fleet for nearly two years.
Ahmedabad Crash
The ill-fated aircraft was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with over 8,200 hours of flying experience and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the pilots issued a mayday call shortly after takeoff, but communication was lost soon after.
Authorities are investigating whether mechanical failure, pilot response or other factors led to the crash. Air India has set up a dedicated passenger helpline (1800 5691 444), and emergency support centres have been activated.
What Comes Next For Boeing?
The Ahmedabad crash comes at a precarious time for Boeing which is already facing heightened regulatory scrutiny and a crisis of public trust. With lawsuits, production delays and congressional investigations still ongoing, the crash adds to a growing list of incidents that question not only Boeing’s safety standards but the oversight systems that govern them.
Meanwhile, shares of Boeing dropped nearly 8% in US premarket trading after Ahmedabad crash.
When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, “What is the purpose of journalism in society?”
When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, “What is the purpose of journalism in society?”
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