Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad raises safety concerns

The Air India plane that crashed in Ahmedabad with 242 passengers on board was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner — the first crash of its kind involving this model. The incident is being regarded as the world’s deadliest air disaster in a decade due to the heavy loss of life.

Introduced 14 years ago, the Dreamliner recently marked one billion passengers globally, according to Boeing. However, flight radar data shows that the aircraft lost signal just seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport at 1:39 PM before crashing into a nearby residential area.

Experts suspect issues with the wing flaps — critical during takeoff and landing — may have contributed. Video footage verified by the BBC shows the landing gear still deployed and flaps unusually retracted early. Analysts suggest potential pilot error but caution that poor video quality makes definitive conclusions difficult. Investigations are underway to determine the exact cause.