In a catastrophic event that has sent shockwaves through the global aviation industry, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as flight AI171, crashed during takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday (June 12) afternoon. The disaster, which occurred at approximately 2:30 PM IST, is being described as the worst aviation accident in India since the 2020 Kozhikode tragedy, with unconfirmed reports indicating multiple fatalities.

The crash has intensified scrutiny on Boeing, already under investigation by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following a whistleblower’s allegations about safety lapses in the manufacturing of its 777 and 787 aircraft.

Ahmedabad Crash

The ill-fated flight, bound for London Gatwick, carried 242 passengers and crew, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals. The aircraft, registered as VT-ANB and in service since December 2013, veered off the runway during takeoff and crashed into a densely populated residential area near the airport, triggering a massive fire fueled by the jet’s onboard fuel. Emergency response teams, including local fire brigades and India’s National Disaster Response Force, were deployed, but the scale of the destruction has complicated rescue efforts.

Initial reports from witnesses described a loud explosion followed by thick plumes of smoke rising from the crash site. Ahmedabad airport has been...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi5wFBVV95cUxNY3JJTFhuOGJ0eTBlYmNQRUdO...