The precise sequence of events following the takeoff of Air India Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad remains uncertain. However, aviation experts often stress that the moments immediately after liftoff are among the most dangerous. Tragically, on Thursday afternoon, this critical phase turned catastrophic when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed just 1.5 km from the runway, prompting an international investigation.
Saligram J Murlidhar, a former Deputy Director at the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), speculated on a possible explanation. “One possible cause that comes to mind—though this is just a very preliminary assumption—is fuel contamination, which could fall under sabotage. If the fuel added was contaminated with water or other substances, the quantity might appear normal, but the contamination could prevent proper combustion,” he told IANS.
Bengaluru, Karnataka: On the crash of Air India Flight AI171, Saligram J. Murlidhar, Former Deputy Director of NAL (National Aerospace Laboratories), says, “…One possible cause that comes to mind—though this is just a very preliminary assumption—is fuel contamination, which… pic.twitter.com/ilZKqkDvAM
— IANS (@ians_india) June 13, 2025
A joint inquiry is now underway, involving Indian authorities alongside specialists from the US and UK, to determine what caused the crash of the 12-year-old aircraft. The London-bound flight slammed into a hostel belonging to a medical college after crashing into a densely populated neighborhood in Ahmedabad, soon after departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12. All 241 passengers and crew, along with several individuals on the ground, perished.
Rescue operations at the site continue under tight security, with DNA analysis being conducted to identify severely burned remains. Officials have not yet confirmed whether the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder—commonly known as black boxes—have been retrieved.
This tragedy marks the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner since the aircraft’s debut in 2011. Around 1,200 units of the Dreamliner are in use globally. While Boeing has been criticized in the past for safety flaws in other models, the Dreamliner had maintained a flawless fatality record until this incident.
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