BREAKING NEWS London-Bound Air India Flight Crashes Near Ahmedabad

[newbee2022]

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

UPDATE
Latest update from Air India

This is the latest update released by the airline.
 

“Air India confirms that flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on 12 June 2025, was involved in an accident.

 

The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew.

 

The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off. We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital.

 

The passengers comprised 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals and 1 Canadian national. The survivor is a British national of Indian origin.

 

Air India offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones.

 

A team of caregivers from Air India is now in Ahmedabad to provide additional support. Air India is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident.”

 

Ground casualties.

 

 

India’s Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), says some 50-60 students studying medicine were taken to hospital after the Air India flight crashed into the doctors' hostel.

 

The association says five students are missing, and at least two are in the intensive care unit.

 

Relatives of some doctors are also missing.

 

 

Sources have stated details of the crew;

 

The pilots were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had 8,200 hours of experience and First Officer Clive Kunder, from Mumbai, was co-piloting. He had logged 1,100 of flying hours and completed his training at the Florida-based Paris Air Flight School, according to local media.

Senior Crew members Shradha Dhavan and Aparna Mahadik, along with Saineeta Chakravarti, Deepak Pathak, Maithili Patil, Irfan Shaikh, Roshni Songhare Rajendra, Manisha Thapam, Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam and Lamnunthem Singsonwere also named among the crew.

 

Flightradar24

 

Flightradar24 have been able to process a limited number of additional ADS-B data frames and produced calculations of Above Ground Level altitude for Air India flight 

 

Details are here;

 

https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/flight-tracking-news/major-incident/air-india-171-crashes-shortly-after-take-off-from-ahmedabad/

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now 2025-06-13

 

 

 

 

 

It's evident by videos that the gear was still out but the flaps were in.

Stating that these 2 levers are near to each other on the copilot's side it might have been a fatal mistake of him.

[Thingamabob]

15 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

Anyone who has seen the videos in the other topics will be sure that there cannot be survivors - although I hope I'm wrong. Quite possibly many deaths amongst the local populous, as it crashed into a residential area. 

Only one survivor, from seat 11 A.

[Srikcir]

[Srikcir]

 

[sqwakvfr]

The aircraft got off the ground but did not appear to be climbing. The 787 had a total passenger load of crew and passengers  of 242. Max capacity is reported to be 359 and max range is reported to be over 8000 NM.  Distance from departure to LHR is over 4200 NM. I think the aircraft was within load and the range limits.  As usual the "experts" are spectulating left and right. One alleged expert has already declard "pilot error".  I can add this unless both engines were out if an aircarft does not climb after takeoff the repsone can be counter intutivie.  AKA, lower the noee and see if the aricaft will fly without climbing.  The video shows the aircraft crashing with the nose high in a climb configuration.  Really sad and I have already heard the Indian Government has asked the US NTSB to participate in the crash investigation.  

[shocky2012]

I saw a video claiming to show a body from that crash on a stretcher and it was just a chard black lump and this man just walks away.
 

Luckiest man alive https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tc1/1/16/1f62e.png  RIP.

[Georgealbert]

Air India Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Phuket After Bomb Threat

 

 

[nauseus]

3 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

The aircraft got off the ground but did not appear to be climbing. The 787 had a total passenger load of crew and passengers  of 242. Max capacity is reported to be 359 and max range is reported to be over 8000 NM.  Distance from departure to LHR is over 4200 NM. I think the aircraft was within load and the range limits.  As usual the "experts" are spectulating left and right. One alleged expert has already declard "pilot error".  I can add this unless both engines were out if an aircarft does not climb after takeoff the repsone can be counter intutivie.  AKA, lower the noee and see if the aricaft will fly without climbing.  The video shows the aircraft crashing with the nose high in a climb configuration.  Really sad and I have already heard the Indian Government has asked the US NTSB to participate in the crash investigation.  

 

Max passenger capacity for AI 787-8 is 259.

[sqwakvfr]

49 minutes ago, nauseus said:

 

Max passenger capacity for AI 787-8 is 259.

Yes for normal airline operations with baggage etc, The 359 number max with no cargo and minimum fuei.  Also, the 8000 NM max range is based upon an empty plane except for fuel.  The 259 number is real world for airline ops.  For comparison Boeing claims the B777-300 ER can fly 10,000 NM but this would also be with little to no passengers and fuel tanks topped off. 

[nauseus]

1 hour ago, sqwakvfr said:

Yes for normal airline operations with baggage etc, The 359 number max with no cargo and minimum fuei.  Also, the 8000 NM max range is based upon an empty plane except for fuel.  The 259 number is real world for airline ops.  For comparison Boeing claims the B777-300 ER can fly 10,000 NM but this would also be with little to no passengers and fuel tanks topped off. 

 

No. That's the number of seats they have on board. Your other numbers are also irrelevant.

[Kinnock]

9 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

It's evident by videos that the gear was still out but the flaps were in.

Stating that these 2 levers are near to each other on the copilot's side it might have been a fatal mistake of him.

That seems to be the most likely theory.  At the point where you'd expect to see the gear being retracted, the aircraft starts to lose lift - so it's possible the co-pilot retracted the flaps rather than the undercarriage.

 

So sad that such a basic error could cause such a tragedy.

[newbee2022]

14 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

That seems to be the most likely theory.  At the point where you'd expect to see the gear being retracted, the aircraft starts to lose lift - so it's possible the co-pilot retracted the flaps rather than the undercarriage.

 

So sad that such a basic error could cause such a tragedy.

Yes, if this "mistake" caused the crash it's a real tragedy 

[PPGuy]

Flown into and out of Ahmedabad many times over he past 25 years. Always on business as it's not the most scenic of cities. So this sad event really hit home. 

I had the dubious pleasure of being the 1st passenger to arrive at the new International terminal about 15 years back. This was on a Qatar airways flight from Doha at about 4am and I happened to be the only passenger up front.The bottom of the steps were well lit up and I only realised it was some special event when I saw the camera crew and being pressed to shake a few hands after descending the steps. This extended to the entrance to the new terminal where, having been driven there in splendid isolation on the usual clunky airport bus, some guys from Immigration and Customs were also wanting to shake my hand. Rather surreal.That was the only arrival at the terminal for that day and for a few days after as this was deemed an auspicious day for such an event, ready or not!!

[Nid_Noi]

11 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

It's evident by videos that the gear was still out but the flaps were in.

Stating that these 2 levers are near to each other on the copilot's side it might have been a fatal mistake of him.

No, the 2 levers are at different places. The gear is on the captain’s side on the panel while the flap handle is close to the co-pilot seat in the left armrest position. Both are totally different in shape. The gear level has a small wheel to remind the pilots its function while the flap lever has the curvature of the wing also a reminder of its function.

[newbee2022]

37 minutes ago, Nid_Noi said:

No, the 2 levers are at different places. The gear is on the captain’s side on the panel while the flap handle is close to the co-pilot seat in the left armrest position. Both are totally different in shape. The gear level has a small wheel to remind the pilots its function while the flap lever has the curvature of the wing also a reminder of its function.

Doesn't matter where these levers are. I got my explanation from the "cockpit", a blog for pilots. 

Fact is gears were out, flaps were in.

So the plane was determined to crash. Fact.

[nauseus]

53 minutes ago, Nid_Noi said:

No, the 2 levers are at different places. The gear is on the captain’s side on the panel while the flap handle is close to the co-pilot seat in the left armrest position. Both are totally different in shape. The gear level has a small wheel to remind the pilots its function while the flap lever has the curvature of the wing also a reminder of its function.

 

The much smaller landing gear control is very slightly on the captain’s side but still nearly central within the main display panel cluster. The flap control level is closer to the co-pilot seat but only offset slightly to the right of the centrally sited thrust control levers. Both are easily within reach of both pilots.

[sqwakvfr]

11 hours ago, nauseus said:

 

No. That's the number of seats they have on board. Your other numbers are also irrelevant.

Number of passengers on board is dependent on how much fuel and much is in the cargo hold.  More passengers and more in the carge hold then less fuel. More fuel then less in the cabin and cargo hold.  All aircrat have MTOW (Mas Takoff Weight)  Fro the B788-8 the MTOW is 500,000 lbs. .  This number is not irrelevant. 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE

The Indian DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) reported on 13 June, that initial preliminary findings rule out a bird strike as no bird carcasses have been found. Loading of the aircraft was routine, hence a load problem is unlikely. The likelihood of a pilot error is considered minimal as is the simultaneous failure of both engines.

Police sources have indicated, that one of the blackboxes has been recovered, which was confirmed on June 13th by India's Civil Aviation Minister who reported the blackbox found at the rooftop of the doctor's hostel is the flight data recorder.

 

The DCGA  ordered safety checks on the airline's entire Boeing-787 fleet.

 

India's AAIB (Air Accidents Investigation Bureau) have opened an investigation. The US NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and UK AAIB (Air Accidents Investigation Branch) have dispatched teams to India to join the investigation.

 

There are 8 fatalities on the ground confirmed, with many injured still receiving treatment, in addition to the confirmed 241 dead on the aircraft.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Aviation Herald 2025-06-14

 

 

 

 

 

[stevenl]

11 hours ago, Nid_Noi said:

No, the 2 levers are at different places. The gear is on the captain’s side on the panel while the flap handle is close to the co-pilot seat in the left armrest position. Both are totally different in shape. The gear level has a small wheel to remind the pilots its function while the flap lever has the curvature of the wing also a reminder of its function.

Also here speculation from experienced pilots it could have been wrong retraction. Also examples from earlier flaps in stead of landing gear retraction.

 

https://www.facebook.com/MentourPilot/videos/1207383097733798/

[brewsterbudgen]

26 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Also here speculation from experienced pilots it could have been wrong retraction. Also examples from earlier flaps in stead of landing gear retraction.

 

https://www.facebook.com/MentourPilot/videos/1207383097733798/

Isn't there something can override or warn the pilots about this?  I thought most actions were now computer-controlled?

[nauseus]

3 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

Number of passengers on board is dependent on how much fuel and much is in the cargo hold.  More passengers and more in the carge hold then less fuel. More fuel then less in the cabin and cargo hold.  All aircrat have MTOW (Mas Takoff Weight)  Fro the B788-8 the MTOW is 500,000 lbs. .  This number is not irrelevant. 

 

The maximum number of passengers on board is first determined by the maximum number of passenger seats, which in this case is 259. 

 

The flight was a long one but easily within the range of a 787-8, so full fuel not required.

[sqwakvfr]

1 hour ago, nauseus said:

 

The maximum number of passengers on board is first determined by the maximum number of passenger seats, which in this case is 259. 

 

The flight was a long one but easily within the range of a 787-8, so full fuel not required.

An all economy cabin can go up to 359.  A two class cabin would be 248.  A two class cabin probably would be a small number of seats in business and the rest would be economy.  The Air India survivor was seated in 11A (probably Business).   If this flight had 242 than it was almost full. Also, this aircraft took off fomr an intersection and did not use the full length of the runway. Lastly India in June is hot and this was a day time takeoff so aircraft performance would be less than optimal. 

[nauseus]

5 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

An all economy cabin can go up to 359.  A two class cabin would be 248.  A two class cabin probably would be a small number of seats in business and the rest would be economy.  The Air India survivor was seated in 11A (probably Business).   If this flight had 242 than it was almost full. Also, this aircraft took off fomr an intersection and did not use the full length of the runway. Lastly India in June is hot and this was a day time takeoff so aircraft performance would be less than optimal. 

 

Air India 787-8's are all two-class with a maximum 259 seats. That's it.

 

Your continued nonsense amazes me. 

[sqwakvfr]

5 minutes ago, nauseus said:

 

Air India 787-8's are all two-class with a maximum 259 seats. That's it.

 

Your continued nonsense amazes me. 

Why would nonsense amaze anyone? If nonsense amazes you then are you "special"? 

[stevenl]

32 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

Also, this aircraft took off fomr an intersection and did not use the full length of the runway. Lastly India in June is hot and this

First reports indicated that, later reports say the plane did use the full runway and rotated as usual.

[sqwakvfr]

3 minutes ago, stevenl said:

First reports indicated that, later reports say the plane did use the full runway and rotated as usual.

Ok thanks.  

[josephbloggs]

7 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

UPDATE

The Indian DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) reported on 13 June, that initial preliminary findings rule out a bird strike as no bird carcasses have been found. Loading of the aircraft was routine, hence a load problem is unlikely. The likelihood of a pilot error is considered minimal as is the simultaneous failure of both engines.

Police sources have indicated, that one of the blackboxes has been recovered, which was confirmed on June 13th by India's Civil Aviation Minister who reported the blackbox found at the rooftop of the doctor's hostel is the flight data recorder.

 

The DCGA  ordered safety checks on the airline's entire Boeing-787 fleet.

 

India's AAIB (Air Accidents Investigation Bureau) have opened an investigation. The US NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and UK AAIB (Air Accidents Investigation Branch) have dispatched teams to India to join the investigation.

 

There are 8 fatalities on the ground confirmed, with many injured still receiving treatment, in addition to the confirmed 241 dead on the aircraft.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Aviation Herald 2025-06-14

 

 

 

 

 

This is interesting. Apparently the RAT was deployed which would indicated loss of power (electrical, hydraulic or engine) and would also explain why the landing gear wasn't retracted.
 

And, according to a 787 mechanic, here are all the conditions that would automatically deploy the RAT (any one of them):
 

• Loss of all engines

• Both engines are at less than minimum idle RPM (Revolutions Per Minute)

• Loss of all hydraulic power - left, right, and center systems detect low pressure

• Loss of all electrical power

• BPCU (Bus Power Control Unit) detects loss of power to C1 and C2 TRU (Transformer Rectifier Unit)s

• On approach, loss of all four EMP (Electric Motor Pump) hydraulic pressures and loss of either the left or right flight controls ACE (Actuator Control Electronics)

• Rotor burst on takeoff that causes loss of both PECS (Power Electronics Cooling System) primary cooling loops.