Bird Strike Suspected in Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crash in India

A devastating air disaster struck Ahmedabad, India, marking one of the most tragic incidents in the nation’s aviation history. An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating flight AI171, was en route from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad to London Gatwick when it crashed just minutes after takeoff. The aircraft was carrying 242 individuals, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Indian police have reported that it is likely there are no survivors, and the impact on the ground remains under investigation, as the plane collided with a hostel housing medical workers in the Meghani Nagar district.

The flight took off at 13:38 local time (8:08 GMT) but lost altitude abruptly just five minutes later, according to data from FlightRadar24. Preliminary investigations by local television outlets suggest that a bird strike may be the primary cause of the crash, as a flock of birds could have caused the engines to fail, preventing the aircraft from climbing. Eyewitness video footage captures the plane maintaining its ascent angle before it suddenly plummets, culminating in a catastrophic explosion and fire. Debris from the aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, is scattered across a densely populated area, with thick black smoke visible from kilometers away.

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Gyanendra Singh Malik reported that 204 bodies have been recovered thus far, with 133 of them identified. Among the deceased were residents of the hostel, primarily medical students, with approximately 50 others suffering serious injuries. The passenger manifest included 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. Local reports indicate that former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani may have been on board, though his status remains unconfirmed. Additionally, Shubh and Shagun Modi, sons of a notable businessman from Ahmedabad, were also reported among the fatalities.

This incident marks the first crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft type entered service in 2011. The particular plane involved in the accident was delivered to Air India in 2014 and was regarded as relatively new. While the Dreamliner is celebrated for its fuel efficiency and cutting-edge technology, it has previously encountered issues related to lithium-ion batteries igniting, leading to the grounding of all 787s in 2013. Nonetheless, aviation experts believe that the age and condition of the aircraft are unlikely to have contributed to this tragic event. Boeing has issued a statement expressing condolences and affirming its commitment to collaborating with Air India in the investigation of the crash.