Investigators analyzing Air India plane crash…here’s the latest update
Aftermath of the Air India crash during takeoff in Ahmedabad (Adnan Abidi/Reuters)
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 people on the ground. The aircraft lost power in both engines moments after leaving the runway, reaching an altitude of only about 600 feet before crashing approximately 30 seconds later.
The sudden loss of thrust from both engines simultaneously is an extremely rare event, prompting investigators to consider all possibilities, including sabotage. Indian Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, confirmed that sabotage has not been ruled out and that the investigation is ongoing.
Mr. Mohol also addressed rumors about the aircraft’s black box, stating the device “will not go anywhere” for the investigation, dismissing reports that it would be flown out of the country for specialist analysis in the United States.
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“It is in AAIB’s custody and there is no need to send it outside. We will do the entire investigation,” he said.
The aircraft’s black boxes — the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder — were recovered shortly after the crash and flown to New Delhi, where investigators began analyzing the data on June 24. The investigation is being led by Indian officials, with technical support from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the U.K. Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
In response to the crash, the Indian aviation regulator ordered inspections of all 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliners in Air India’s fleet. As of late June, 26 aircraft have cleared safety checks, with the remainder still under inspection.
This tragic crash marks the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its introduction in 2011. A preliminary report on the investigation is expected within 30 days, with the final report likely to take up to three months. The findings will be crucial for understanding whether the crash resulted from mechanical failure, sabotage, or other factors.
