The Air India plane that crashed on Thursday was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, an aircraft deemed safe with no accident history.
“The aircraft involved is an 11-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. This is the first major accident involving the 787,” said Graham Braithwaite, an aviation expert from Cranfield University.
The news agency also reported that this aircraft is one of the most modern in service, highlighting that the 787 is a new model with a “strong” safety record and no prior accidents.
“Although takeoff is a critical phase of flight, air accidents are incredibly rare, especially involving modern aircraft like the Boeing 787,” Braithwaite said.
The expert added, “Takeoff is a critical phase because the aircraft is still accelerating and any issue demands a quick response.”
Boeing shares are plunging more than 8% in pre-market trading on Thursday following the air crash in India.
The plane that crashed today in Ahmedabad, western India, belonged to Air India and was carrying 244 people on a flight to London, reported the Indian news agency Press Trust of India (PTI).
“Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, June 12, 2025,” announced the airline, according to PTI.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787, crashed in a locality near Ahmedabad airport shortly after takeoff, according to police.
