A tragedy struck on Air India flight 171, on its way to London. Aftermath of crash of Boeing 787 aircraft into residential area of Ahmedabad. As we now know, the independence this crash promised would tragically prove to be an illusion. It killed 241 passengers on board and at least 30 people on the ground. Among the deceased were medical students and the brother of his only survivor, Ajay Ramesh. Just days after leaving the hospital, Viswashkumar was confronted with the unthinkable—saying goodbye to his brother.
This crash has focused the world’s attention on the safety of the Boeing 787 fleet that is currently in service with Air India. India’s aviation safety regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has acted. They requested more stringent inspections on these aircraft to improve operational safety and efficiency.
Details of the Crash
Air India flight 171 en route to New Delhi, having taken off from Ahmedabad, never made it to its destination. The Boeing 787 that was involved in the incident below got a new right engine March 2025. This would continue to be true even if the left engine was overhauled in 2023. The DGCA flagged “serious safety issues” with the type of aircraft, necessitating a focus on pre-flight checks.
In the week following the incident, inspectors closely inspected 26 of Air India’s fleet of 33 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft. These jets have now been re-certified for service. It’s uncertain how long it will take to find out a conclusive cause of the crash.
The Sole Survivor’s Heartbreak
Viswashkumar Ramesh became the unexpected last man standing of the fateful flight. Only days before he was discharged from the hospital, he received the news of his brother’s passing. Ajay Ramesh was sitting only a few rows behind Viswashkumar at the time of the crash. Viswashkumar is still feeling the loss close and heavy like a weight on his chest. As he wrestles with his grief including the unimaginable burden that he is the only survivor of his co-passengers.
“To ensure stability of operations, better efficiency and minimise inconvenience to passengers,” said an Air India spokesperson regarding their commitment to addressing safety issues following this tragedy.
Future Implications for Air Travel
The impacts of this crash go well beyond the immediate pain of grief and loss. Regulatory bodies are already being pressed to reconsider safety procedures for commercial flights that use Boeing 787 planes. The DGCA’s intervention to ground additional planes for more scrutiny is a positive sign that passenger safety should always come first.
These investigations remain under active investigation. A common mistake is conflating the immediate blame with accountability for the final disaster which can sometimes take months or years to ascertain. The wider aviation community and families directly impacted by these tragedies are still waiting on answers that will change the course of safety within the industry.
