The crash of Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad has shaken the global aviation community. With hundreds of lives lost, and intense scrutiny from investigators, regulators, and the media, facts continue to emerge alongside a torrent of misinformation. Here is a clear summary of what we know so far, including key confirmed details.
✅ Confirmed Facts
1. Aircraft and Flight Details
The aircraft was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner registration VT-ANB operated by Air India on flight AI171.
A MAYDAY call was reportedly issued shortly after takeoff, but there was no response to subsequent ATC calls.
2. Death Toll and Survivors
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanan Desai, 265 bodies have been recovered so far, suggesting that at least 24 people were killed on the ground, in addition to those on board.
Only one survivor has been confirmed: Viswashkumar Ramesh, who was seated in seat 11A. He was reportedly able to walk from the wreckage into an ambulance.
3. Black Boxes
One of the aircraft’s two black boxes (Flight Data Recorder or Cockpit Voice Recorder) has been recovered.
DNA testing is underway to confirm the identities of the deceased. Authorities have stated that families overseas are being contacted and DNA samples collected.
4. Will 787s be grounded?
They stated that there is no current evidence requiring the grounding of Boeing 787 aircraft, but any safety recommendations arising from the investigation will be acted upon.
5. Preliminary Theories
Aviation analyst James Nixon stated on ABC Sydney that, based on crash footage, the event did not appear to involve a bird strike or engine failure. “There’s no popping, no smoke—this appears very much to be a pilot-induced crash, not a plane failure,” he said.
AirlineRatings emphasises that speculation at this early stage is unhelpful and potentially misleading. However, as more footage of the crash becomes available, it increasingly appears that human error may be a significant factor in the ongoing investigation.
6. The plane had electrical faults earlier that day
A passenger who flew on the same Air India aircraft just two hours before it crashed has claimed the plane showed signs of technical issues during its earlier flight from Delhi to Ahmedabad. Akash Vatsa, who was on board that earlier leg, posted on social media that the air conditioning wasn’t working, and several in-cabin systems—including TV screens, call buttons, and reading lights—were unresponsive. Videos from the flight show passengers fanning themselves with magazines, highlighting discomfort and potential system malfunctions before the fatal journey.
AirlineRatings’ view at this stage is that any link is purely coincidental, and the public is urged not to get swept up in speculation. Conclusions should not be drawn until investigators have analysed the data from the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder.
7. What happens to the Air India Safety Rating now?
Following the crash, AirlineRatings immediately downgraded Air India’s safety rating to 4 out of 7. As further information becomes available, this score may be reduced further under our accidents and incidents criteria. A maximum rating of 4/7 will remain in place for the next 10 years. However, if the investigation determines the crash was due to factors beyond Air India’s or the pilots’ control—such as terrorism or a manufacturing defect—the rating will be revised to reflect that.
For more information on how our safety ratings work, read here:
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