Tragedy in Ahmedabad: Boeing 787 crash claims 241 lives!

Tragedy in Ahmedabad: Boeing 787 crash claims 241 lives!

On June 12, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The plane, which was carrying 242 people, crashed into a residential area and caught fire. Tragically, 241 passengers and 19 people on the ground died in the accident; only one passenger, a Brit, survived the crash. This horrifying record raises serious questions about the safety and technology of the Boeing 787, which became the focus of international attention a month ago. Small newspaper reported that the cause of the accident may have been related to a sudden loss of thrust.

The investigation is already in full swing. Experts from Boeing, the US Federal Aviation Administration and the engine manufacturer GE are involved in the investigation. An external influence such as a bird collision could be ruled out as no relevant bird activity was observed near the flight path. However, it was reported that the plane lost altitude before clearing the airport's perimeter wall, which could indicate technical problems.

Technical analysis and exploration status

On the voice recorder, one of the pilots could be heard asking about flipping the fuel switch, to which the other replied that he had not done so. It remains unclear whether this answer came from the captain or the first officer. US expert John Cox emphasizes that a pilot cannot accidentally flip the fuel switches. Surveillance cameras also showed that the plane's ram air turbine emergency system was deployed as the plane began to climb. This system is used to generate hydraulic or electrical energy from the airstream.

The initial findings also speculate that the flap position was incorrect or that the pilots may have accidentally inserted the buoyancy aids. Some important information has already been gained during the recovery work, including the recovery of one of the black boxes, the evaluation of which is now crucial for reconstructing the course of the accident. Flight review highlights that the temperature during the incident was around 40 degrees Celsius, which may have affected air density and therefore buoyancy and engine performance.

Aviation supervision and safety

What is particularly noticeable is that Air India has been under increased scrutiny since the crash. The Indian aviation regulator had previously warned the airline for violating pilots' working hours. In addition, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has announced an investigation into low-cost airline Air India Express, further exacerbating the already tense situation. The Boeing 787, designed using the "More Electric" principle, is a technologically advanced aircraft, but the crash casts a critical light on the safety practices of manufacturers Boeing and GE Aerospace.

The accident is part of a complex trend in aviation, where the total number of plane crashes has fallen in recent years Statista reported. However, fear of such tragic incidents remains, especially when human lives are at stake and technical deficiencies need to be uncovered. The Boeing 787 crash is a major setback for the aviation industry and urgently requires comprehensive clarity about the causes to avoid future tragedies.