Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed on June 12, 2025, shortly after departing from Ahmedabad Airport, en route to London Gatwick Airport. The crash claimed 260 lives, including 241 passengers and crew, and 19 people on the ground. One passenger, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived with minor injuries. The aircraft impacted a residential area, specifically the hostel block of B. J. Medical College, causing widespread destruction.
Air India Flight 171 Aircraft Details
The following table summarizes the key details of the aircraft:
| Make | Boeing |
| Model | 787-8 Dreamliner |
| Manufacturing Details | Manufactured in 2013 at Boeing’s Everett Factory, with fuselage sections from the South Carolina facility |
| Year & Delivery | The aircraft (serial number 36279/26) completed its first flight on December 14, 2013, and was delivered to Air India on January 28, 2014. At the time of the crash, it was 11 years old |
| Years in Service | 11 years (2014 to 2025) |
| Owner | Air India |
| Flight Number | AI171 |
| Capacity | Configured for 230 passengers and 12 crew (242 total on board for this flight); typical 787-8 capacity is 210-250 passengers depending on configuration |
| Engine Make | General Electric |
| Engine Model | GEnx-1B70/75/P2 (Left) GEnx-1B70/P2 (Right) |
| Engine Manufacture Date | 20 May 2012 (Left) 21 Jan 2013 (Right) |
| Flying Hours | Approximately 41,868 hours (some sources report 39,450 hours) |
| Trips (Cycles) | Approximately 7,400 cycles (based on last check at 7,255 cycles) |
| Last Point of Departure | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport |
| Intended Destination | London Gatwick Airport |
Details on services/repairs done to the aircraft
The aircraft underwent regular maintenance and specific repairs, as detailed below:
- Throttle Control Module: Replaced in 2019 and 2023, but these replacements were unrelated to the fuel control switch issues implicated in the crash (more on this below in Preliminary findings section).
- Engine Installations: The left-hand engine (ESN 956174) was installed on May 1, 2025, with 27,791:43 hours and 4,298 cycles. The right-hand engine (ESN 956235) was installed on March 26, 2025, with 33,439:30 hours and 6,202 cycles.
- Previous Incident: On August 21, 2014, the aircraft experienced windscreen cracks near Delhi, which were repaired with no fatalities.
- Fuel Control Switches: No defects were reported since 2023. A 2018 FAA advisory (SAIB NM-18-33) highlighted potential issues with fuel control switch locking features, but Air India did not perform the recommended inspections, as they were advisory, not mandatory.
- Maintenance Checks: The last major line maintenance check (L1-1 and L1-2) occurred at 38,504:12 hours and 7,255 cycles. The next major D Check was scheduled for December 2025.
- Airworthiness: The last Airworthiness Review Certificate was issued on May 22, 2025, valid until May 23, 2026. Several Minimum Equipment List (MEL) items were active, including issues with the flight deck door visual surveillance, airport map function, core network, and nitrogen generation performance, but these were within acceptable limits and not linked to the crash.
Pilots information
The pilots of Flight 171 were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, both based in Mumbai. Captain Sabharwal, aged 56, had approximately 15,600 total flight hours, with nearly 8,600 hours on the Boeing 787, and was likely the Pilot Monitoring. First Officer Kunder, aged 32, had around 3,400 total flight hours, with about 1,100 on the Boeing 787, and was likely the Pilot Flying. Both pilots were deemed fit to fly, with no indications of health or fatigue issues, as confirmed by breathalyser tests and their rest schedule. More details about the pilots can be read here: Air India Flight 171 Pilots Details.
Sequence of events
Detailed timeline of events
The following table summarizes the exact times (in IST) of key events from the start of the takeoff roll to the crash, as extracted from the preliminary report and corroborated by news sources.
| Time (IST) | Event |
|---|---|
| 13:37:37 | Aircraft starts takeoff roll |
| 13:38:35 | Aircraft reaches takeoff speed (155 knots) |
| 13:38:39 | Liftoff (aircraft becomes airborne) |
| 13:38:42 | Fuel control switches moved to CUTOFF (engines lose fuel supply) |
| 13:38:47 | Backup power system (Ram Air Turbine) deployed |
| 13:38:52 | First fuel switch moved back to RUN |
| 13:38:54 | Second fuel switch moved back to RUN |
| 13:39:05 | Mayday call issued from cockpit |
| 13:39:11 | Black box stops recording (crash occurs) |
Casualties & Survivor
The crash resulted in a tragic loss of life, with a total of 260 fatalities. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh is the sole survivor of the crash. He sustained minor injuries and was released from medical care after 5 days. DNA tests confirmed all identities by June 28, 2025, with notable casualties including Vijay Rupani, former Chief Minister of Gujarat.
Below is a table summarizing the casualties:
| Total on board | 242 |
| Fatalities on board | 241 |
| Survivor on board | 1 |
| Ground fatalities | 19 |
| Ground injuries | 67 |
| Total fatalities | 260 |
| Total injuries | 68 |
More details about the survivor
Video of the person walking out of the crashed AirIndia Flight 171
Man on Seat 11A survived the deadly Air India crash in Ahmedabad
byu/Temporary-Bug-7164 inahmedabad
The survivor was seated in the seat 11A close to emergency exit. Refer image below:
Preliminary findings
The preliminary report, published on July 8, 2025, by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), indicates that the crash was likely due to a loss of thrust from both engines. This was caused by the fuel control switches being moved from the “RUN” to “CUTOFF” position just three seconds after takeoff, effectively starving the engines of fuel. The report does not identify any mechanical faults in the aircraft itself.
Key points from the report include:
- A 2018 FAA advisory warned about the potential for fuel switch locking features to be inadvertently moved, but there is no record of the recommended inspections being performed on VT-ANB.
- Maintenance records show that the throttle control module was replaced in 2019 and 2023 for reasons unrelated to the crash.
- The investigation is ongoing led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with assistance from the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (four investigators) and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) “go team.” The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also ready to launch a team if needed.
Example video showing how the fuel switches work on Boeing flight (This is not exactly how the switches looked on the Flight 171, but it shows the functionality which is similar)
How the engine cut-off switches work in the Boeing 787 involved in the Air India Crash
byu/captain-cox- inairplanes
Other findings from the report
The report mentioned that the aircraft was at about 8° altitude when it crashed into the building. Refer image below:
The rear end of the air craft after it crashed into the building
Image of both flight recorders recovered from the crashed air craft
Image of Thrust Lever Quadrant & Fuel Control Switch. Left one shows the burnt components recovered, right one shows how they actually would look like on the air craft.
Recent developments & Controversies
As of July 13, 2025, several updates have emerged:
- The FAA has stated there are no urgent safety concerns regarding the Boeing 787-8 or its engines but has reminded airlines of the 2018 advisory on fuel switch locking features.
- Boeing has affirmed the safety of the fuel-switch locking mechanism, amid ongoing probes.
- Families of the victims have expressed dissatisfaction with the preliminary report, describing it as “vague” and calling for more clarity.
- Pilot unions have reacted strongly to suggestions of pilot error, as highlighted in The Independent on July 13, 2025, with reports indicating cockpit confusion during the final moments.
- Cockpit audio, as reported by various news outlets like BBC and Newsweek, has deepened the mystery, with the pilot reportedly saying “Mayday, no thrust, losing power, unable to lift” seconds before the crash, suggesting a sudden and critical failure.
Videos of Air India Flight 171 crash from different view points
CCTV of Ahmedabad Air India AI171 Crash
byu/HackAndHeal inaircrashinvestigation
Air India Plane Crash after Take off
byu/lasantamolti inPublicFreakout