Mystery Over Ahmedabad: The Final Moments of Flight AI171

The tragic crash of Air India’s Flight AI171 shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad has left investigators scrambling for answers. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, heading for London Gatwick, crashed just 1.5 kilometers from the runway on Thursday, killing 241 passengers and causing fatalities on the ground. It is the first deadly incident involving this aircraft model since its debut in 2011.

The aircraft, piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Clive Kundar—both seasoned flyers—departed at 13:39 local time with nearly a full fuel load of 100 tonnes. Shortly after lifting off, a mayday call was issued from the cockpit, but no further communication followed. According to the lone survivor, a loud explosion was heard before the aircraft struggled to gain altitude.

Verified footage revealed the plane flying perilously low over residential areas, reaching only 625 feet before disappearing behind buildings and exploding. CCTV captured the jet in the air for a mere 30 seconds, suggesting a catastrophic issue shortly after takeoff. The crash site included heavily populated buildings, hospitals, and official offices, amplifying the scale of destruction.

Speculation has emerged regarding a rare double engine failure, something that could have occurred due to fuel contamination or malfunction in the aircraft’s fuel metering system. These failures are almost unheard of, with the Miracle on the Hudson in 2009 being a notable example. Investigators are looking into whether the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a backup system, was activated during the emergency.

Bird strikes are another line of inquiry. Ahmedabad airport is known among pilots for frequent bird activity. In recent years, Gujarat has recorded hundreds of bird strike incidents, many concentrated at this airport. Experts caution that while bird strikes usually aren’t catastrophic, simultaneous hits on both engines can prove fatal, especially during critical phases of flight.

A third theory under review is the possible misconfiguration of the aircraft’s flaps. Flaps are crucial during takeoff, helping the plane generate lift at slower speeds. Given the high temperature—close to 40°C—on the day of the crash, proper flap deployment would have been even more critical. A flap error could have severely compromised the aircraft’s ability to climb.

Despite ongoing speculation, the exact cause remains unknown. The investigation, which will include examination of the black box and debris, involves experts from India, the UK, and the US. Until more concrete data surfaces, authorities are urging caution, focusing on evidence-based conclusions to understand how such a tragedy unfolded in the skies over Ahmedabad.