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According to documents listed by airlines, Boeing 787-8, the type involved in Thursday’s crash in Ahmedabad, is flown exclusively by Air India
The tail of the airplane is seen stuck in a building at the site of an airplane that crashed in Ahmedabad. (PTI)
The devastating crash of Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (VT-ANB) on June 12, shortly after take-off from the Ahmedabad international airport, has put a spotlight on India’s wide-body operations and the fleet.
Following Thursday’s crash, high search volumes for Boeing planes have been noticed across all search engines, with people’s anxiety levels rising, said a senior officer serving in the aviation ministry, adding the government will undertake a thorough audit of the specific Boeing fleet as per protocol.
ALSO READ | Ahmedabad Plane Crash News LIVE Updates HERE
The government is likely to seek details about the fleets of Indian operators, he added.
FEAR IN THE SKY, FRANTIC SEARCHES BY PASSENGERS
“Is this flight a Boeing?” or “Which airlines fly Boeing aircraft in India?” are trending across social platforms and all travel forums, the officer pointed out.
Fliers are more conscious and anxious about the make and model of the jets they are about to board. It is also a reminder that fleet composition is not just airline trivia anymore.
A tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad has claimed 241 lives, leaving families in grief and chaos. Prime Minister visits the injured and survivors, while forensic teams work tirelessly at the crash site. DNA identification is underway for the charred remains, as anger rises among… pic.twitter.com/mbkpdxB3SM— News18 (@CNNnews18) June 13, 2025
INDIA’S FLEET COMBINATION: WHO’S FLYING WHAT?
The Indian aviation industry map is currently sharply divided between Airbus narrow-bodies and Boeing wide-bodies.
“Even though passengers are unaware of the technological details, the technical or mechanical knowledge about the aircraft, the searches and the trends show how passengers want to know which plane they are going to board, the brand, the make, and if that specific make was previously involved in any air mishap,” said another senior officer who formerly served in the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).
As per available records, IndiGo, the market leader with a fleet exceeding 430 aircraft, flies only Airbus (A320neo, A321neo) and ATR turboprops. It has no Boeing aircraft in active operation, though a few wet-leased wide-bodies have been used temporarily.
On its website, the airline stated, “IndiGo operates the Airbus A320 CEO & NEO, the A321 NEO and the ATR 72-600 aircraft. The seating capacity on the A320 CEO fleet is 180, A-320 NEO fleet is 180/186, the A321 fleet is 222/232 and ATR Fleet is 78.”
Meanwhile, the Air India Group, post-merger, operates a mixed fleet of Airbus A320 family, A350s, and Boeing 787-8s, 787-9s, and 777-300ERs.
Akasa, India’s youngest airline, flies a pure Boeing 737 MAX fleet. No wide-bodies as of now. On its website, giving its fleet details, Akasa stated, “With a strong commitment to democratising the skies, Akasa will induct a fleet of 226 ultra-modern, brand-new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft powered by the highly fuel-efficient CFM LEAP-1B engine, over a period of ten years. The 737 MAX family provides the lowest seat-mile costs for a single-aisle aeroplane as well as high dispatch reliability and enhanced passenger experience, lower airframe maintenance cost and 50% less noise.”
“Every aeroplane features the Boeing Sky Interior, highlighted by modern sculpted sidewalls, window reveals and LED lighting that enhances cabin experience. With this fleet, Akasa Air is positioned to become an environmentally progressive company with the youngest and greenest fleet in the Indian skies,” it added.
SpiceJet, however, does not operate Dreamliners.
THE DREAMLINERS, A NARROW CLUB
According to documents listed by aviation operators, Boeing 787-8, involved in Thursday’s crash, is flown exclusively by Air India.
Air India, now fully merged with Vistara in 2024, operates around 27 Boeing 787-8s, used primarily on medium- to long-haul routes across Europe, Australia, East Asia, the Gulf and Middle East. The aircraft involved in the crash, VT-ANB, was among the first Dreamliners inducted into the fleet back in the 2012–14 timeframe.
Meanwhile, Vistara’s former wide-body fleet of seven Boeing 787-9s is now part of the Air India mainline operation. These, known as the longer-range, stretched Dreamliners, continue to serve key intercontinental routes like London, Frankfurt, Tokyo and other international sectors.
BETWEEN AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL OPERATIONS
Airbus manufactures planes that have advanced automatic technologies, while Boeing gives the pilots more control. Both manufacturers have their own definitions for their technologies regarding minimising error in the air.
The 787-8, once hailed as the aircraft that was supposed to revolutionise long-haul flying, is now under intense scrutiny. The crash of VT-ANB has raised tough questions, not only about Boeing’s design but also about the aircraft’s age, pilot alertness, and any maintenance oversight, the senior officer added.
Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa…Read More
Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa… Read More
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