What Happened to Air India Flight 171?

Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (registration VT-ANB), was a scheduled international passenger flight from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, to London Gatwick Airport. On June 12, 2025, at 13:39 IST, the aircraft crashed just 32 seconds after takeoff, approximately 1.7 kilometers from the runway, into the student hostels of the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College. The disaster claimed the lives of 241 of the 242 people on board, including all 12 crew members and 229 of 230 passengers, with an additional 19 people killed and 67 seriously injured on the ground. The sole survivor was a British national of Indian origin, Viswashkumar Ramesh, who was seated in 11A.

The preliminary report, released by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) within a month of the crash, indicated that the two switches controlling engine fuel supply flipped almost simultaneously from 'run' to 'cutoff' shortly after takeoff, briefly depriving both engines of fuel. The cockpit voice recording reportedly captured one pilot asking the other about the cutoff, with the other pilot denying the action. While the switches were later moved back to 'run,' only one engine began to recover before the recorder stopped. This preliminary finding has led to speculation about pilot error, though some victim families and aviation experts suggest potential technical issues with the aircraft.

The crash marked the first fatal accident and hull loss involving a Boeing 787 since its entry into service in 2011, and it is the second deadliest incident in Air India's history. In the aftermath, Air India canceled several flights and reduced international widebody flights by 15 percent for a few weeks to conduct heightened safety checks on its Boeing fleet, as ordered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Air India, now owned by the Tata Group, announced compensation of 1 crore Indian rupees (approximately $115,000 at 2025 rates) to the families of those who died, though the final payout is subject to international conventions and Indian law.

As of June 12, 2026, the one-year anniversary of the crash, the final investigation report has not been released. Investigators cite ongoing analysis of the aircraft's GE Aerospace GEnx engines at the manufacturer's facilities in the United States as the reason for the delay. International accident investigation rules typically call for a final report within a year, or an interim statement if delayed. The Federation of Indian Pilots has questioned this delay, urging authorities not to publish an incomplete interim report. This prolonged wait for definitive answers has left many grieving families in a state of uncertainty, with some facing additional hardships, such as a widower fighting deportation from the UK after his wife's death on the flight. Legal and compensation challenges continue for the affected families, highlighting the long-term impact of the tragedy.