Why the Air India Jet Crashed Seconds After Takeoff
Updated June 13, 2025 – Live updates at the end of the article
A tragic accident struck Air India Flight AI171 on Thursday afternoon, just seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed barely 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) from the runway, killing all 241 people on board and causing additional casualties on the ground. Authorities and aviation experts are now racing to understand why the Air India Jet crashed seconds after takeoff, a question that has sparked global concern and an intense investigation.
A full investigation is now underway, involving aviation authorities from India, the US, and the UK. While the exact cause of the crash is still unknown, early clues suggest several possible factors that could have led to this catastrophic event.
What Happened During Takeoff?
Two veteran pilots, First Officer Clive Kundar and Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, flew the plane, with over 9,000 hours of combined total flying experience. The aircraft took off at 1:39 PM local time Thursday, Air India announced, carrying 242 people and nearly 100 tonnes of fuel.
The pilots issued a mayday call within seconds of liftoff. The cockpit made the last transmission in the form of a distress call. A surviving passenger also witnessed an extremely loud explosion when the plane struggled to take off.
Confirmed footage shows the plane flying unusually low above buildings at an apex height of only 625 feet (190 meters). It then plunged and vanished behind structures, and an enormous explosion followed.
Could Both Engines Have Failed?
Investigators are considering the rare possibility of a double engine failure. If both engines failed shortly after takeoff, the pilots would have had almost no time or options to respond.
Some aviation experts have questioned whether the plane activated its Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a backup system that generates power when both engines shut down. General Electric manufactures the plane’s engines, and it has already sent a team to India to assist the probe.
A Known Risk: Bird Strikes at Ahmedabad
Another reason might be a bird strike. They are accidents when birds fly into aircraft and are occasionally sucked into engines, causing power loss. Ahmedabad Airport is notorious for such accidents because it borders open garbage dumps and natural bird habitats.
Based on India’s Civil Aviation Ministry, Gujarat state has had more than 460 bird strikes in five years, the majority of which occurred at Ahmedabad. During 2022–2023 alone, there were 38 bird strikes—a 35% increase over the year before.
Though bird strikes are hazardous, they never resulted in both engines failing—except when more than one bird is sucked in at the same time, which rarely happens and is a sad occurrence.
Flaps Not Set Properly? A Technical Possibility
Some experts have suggested that the flaps of the plane may not have been deployed on takeoff. Flaps are deployed to generate lift, especially on a heavily loaded plane taking off in hot conditions like those found common in Ahmedabad (it was almost 40°C or 104°F on Thursday).
If the pilots did not extend the flaps properly, the aircraft would not be able to achieve enough lift and might stall shortly after takeoff. The Boeing 787 features a Configuration Warning System that alerts the crew in case they set the flaps improperly.
Seasoned pilots told the BBC that this kind of mistake is not frequent, as pilots have several pre-takeoff checklists that can identify such failures. If investigators confirm flap misconfiguration, it could be a human factor, although that remains to be seen until now.
The Black Box Holds the Truth
A comprehensive investigation is underway, including analysis of the flight data recorder (black box) and study of debris brought out of the crash site. These records are certain to reveal the exact sequence of events and whether or not the crash was a result of mechanical failure, external factors, or human error.
Boeing Responds
This accident is noteworthy because it was the first fatal crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner since its introduction in 2011 into commercial aviation. Boeing has stated that it is working fully in cooperation with investigators and Air India.
Chaos on the Ground
The plane dove into the center of Ahmedabad, reducing apartment complexes, hospitals, and government buildings to rubble. Firefighters and volunteers toiled through the night pulling people from the wreckage and extinguishing fires.
At least dozens of families were left homeless, and the total amount of damage on the ground is still being estimated.
Final Thoughts
It’s still too early to determine the exact cause of this horrific crash. Investigators are examining every possibility—from engine failure and bird strikes to technical faults or human error.
One particularly chilling detail has emerged: a 10-minute delay saved a woman from boarding the doomed Air India flight. Her story adds a deeply personal layer to the tragedy. Whatever the final report may reveal, this disaster underscores the need for strict safety checks, better environmental risk management, and stronger global cooperation in aviation security.
LIVE UPDATES – Latest News from the Crash Investigation
- June 13, 2025 – 08:00 IST: GE Aerospace team arrives in Ahmedabad to assist investigation.
- June 13, 2025 – 10:30 IST: Black box recovered from wreckage and sent for analysis.
- June 13, 2025 – 13:00 IST: Boeing releases official statement – “No prior technical warnings detected.”
- June 13, 2025 – 15:45 IST: India’s aviation regulator announces preliminary findings will be shared within 48 hours.
- Next update expected soon…
Stay informed with the latest news, official statements, and real-time investigation updates from trusted sources: