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India's Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu assured the upper house of India's parliament that the investigation into the Air India Flight AI-456 disaster is being conducted with zero bias and in full accordance with global aviation safety norms.  In stating so, the minister who had accompanied Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the crash site and has since been running a hectic schedule, also p ledged absolute transparency and integrity to the house and the people of India.   Image Source: AmravatiInfra on X In his first detailed statement to the Parliament since the horrific June 12 crash that killed 260 people -- one of the worst air disasters in Indian civil aviation history -- the minister emphasised that the country's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is adhering to a strict, rules-based approach grounded in data, not conjecture. “We are guided solely by facts. Our commitment is to the truth — not to headlines, not to corporate interests, and certainly...

Air India has announced a phased restoration of its international flight schedule, following a self-imposed “Safety Pause” after the tragic crash of Flight AI171 in June that claimed 260 lives.  The airline began reinstating select routes on July 16, with more resuming from August 1 and full operations targeted by October 1, 2025. Image Source: IndianTech&Infra on X According to Air India, the temporary halt allowed for precautionary inspections across its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet and accounted for longer detour times due to ongoing airspace restrictions over Pakistan and parts of the Middle East. Key Developments: New Route: A thrice-weekly Ahmedabad–London Heathrow flight will begin August 1, replacing the existing five-times-a-week service to London Gatwick. Reinstated Flights: Delhi–London (Heathrow) : Full 24x weekly service resumed from July 16. Delhi–Zurich : Increased to 5x weekly from August 1. Delhi–Tokyo (Haneda) : Full 7x weekly from August 1. ...

A known mechanical flaw flagged by U.S. aviation regulators in 2018 has resurfaced at the center of the deadly Air India Flight AI171 crash. Representational Image Source: erbmjha on x The FAA’s Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB No. NM-18-33), issued on December 17, 2018, warned of potential disengagement of the locking feature on fuel control switches installed in multiple Boeing aircraft models — including the 787-8 Dreamliner. “Inadvertent operation of the switch could result in an unintended consequence, such as an in-flight engine shutdown.” — FAA SAIB NM-18-33, page 1, paragraph 2 The AAIB’s preliminary report confirms that on June 12, 2025, both engines of the Air India Boeing 787-8 shut down seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, after the fuel control switches were moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” — manually and nearly simultaneously. Voice recordings captured the cockpit exchange: “Why did you cutoff?” “I didn’t.” The aircraft lost all power and crashed jus...

In just 32 seconds, Air India Flight AI171 crashed near Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 260 people. A preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has identified a major systems failure as the cause. Investigators say the failure was preventable — and that warnings had been issued before. Image Source: fl360aero on X Both engines of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner lost thrust seconds after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.  According to the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder, the fuel control switches for both engines were manually moved from the “RUN” to “CUTOFF” positions within a span of one second, triggering a complete loss of engine power at 08:08:42 UTC.  This was just moments after the aircraft had reached 180 knots and achieved its rotation speed. Cockpit voice recordings captured an immediate exchange between the two pilots. One asked, “Why did you cutoff?” and the other responded, “I didn’t”.  The engines shut ...

India has started reviewing data from the flight recorders of the Air India Boeing 787 that crashed near Ahmedabad on June 12. The tragic episode killed at least 270 people. This crash is one of the worst aviation tragedies in India’s recent history. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with help from U.S. experts at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), is leading the investigation.  Image Source: Breaking Aviation on X The two black boxes — one recording flight data and the other cockpit conversations — were recovered from the wreckage a few days after the incident.  They were brought to New Delhi under tight security for analysis. The passenger plane was headed from Ahmedabad to London when it crashed into a neighborhood just minutes after takeoff.  Officials confirmed that 241 people on the plane and at least 29 people on the ground died. Only one person survived. Authorities say the black box data is key to understanding what happened....

Five days after the fatal Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that claimed 270 lives, officials have identified 163 victims through DNA profiling. So far, 124 bodies have been handed over to the families, authorities confirmed on Tuesday. Medical Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, Dr. Rakesh Joshi, said, while informing reporters here earlier today, DNA matching continues to establish the identities of remaining victims, many of whom were severely burned or disfigured in the crash.      Image Source: Pubity on X He expressed confidence that DNA profiling for the remaining bodies would be completed by Tuesday evening or early Wednesday. Of the 71 individuals admitted to the hospital with injuries following the crash, nine remain under treatment, while two succumbed during hospitalisation.  Dr. Joshi also clarified to reports regarding casualties among BJ Medical College students. He confirmed that four students from the institution were killed.  He furt...

Air India continues to face severe operational challenges, with seven international flights cancelled on Tuesday and technical issues forcing a San Francisco-Mumbai service to terminate early during a scheduled stopover in Kolkata.  The disruptions add to the mounting pressure on the Tata Group-owned airline, which is grappling with its biggest crisis since the fatal Ahmedabad crash on June 12 that killed over 270 people. Image Source: JetArena on X According to Air India, six of Tuesday’s cancellations involved its Dreamliner fleet, which remains under enhanced safety checks ordered by India’s aviation regulator, DGCA.  The cancelled routes included Delhi-Paris, Bengaluru-London, London-Amritsar, Delhi-Vienna, Delhi-Dubai, and Mumbai-San Francisco. The Ahmedabad-London Gatwick service, which resumed briefly under a new flight code after the crash, was also cancelled due to aircraft unavailability. The airline clarified that the Delhi-Paris flight was called off after pre-fli...

Five days after the Air India crash in Ahmedabad that killed 270 people, officials confirmed on Tuesday that 135 victims have been identified through DNA testing, with 101 bodies already returned to their families. DNA tests have been necessary as many of the victims were severely charred or disfigured in the crash. Image Source: FriendsofRSS on X Dr. Rakesh Joshi, medical superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, said the bodies handed over so far belonged to victims from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Diu.  Among the 101 bodies released, five were of individuals who were not passengers on the flight but died on the ground. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew on a London-bound flight, crashed into a medical college complex moments after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12.  The crash resulted in 241 fatalities on board, with one passenger surviving. Additionally, 29 people on the groun...

Three days after the Air India flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 270 lives, hospital authorities confirmed Sunday that 80 victims have been identified through DNA testing, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. OpenSourceIntel on X Officials said 33 bodies have been handed over to families following confirmation of identity. Rupani was among the 242 passengers and crew aboard the London-bound Boeing 787 that crashed minutes after takeoff on Thursday. The aircraft went down in a densely populated area near the BJ Medical College complex, causing additional casualties on the ground. The identification process continues as recovery and investigation efforts remain underway.

The Indian government has set up a high-level committee to investigate the Air India crash near Ahmedabad that killed 270 people. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced the formation of the 11-member panel, led by the Union Home Secretary, during a press briefing here on Saturday. Image Source: Aviation Minister on X Naidu said the committee will include senior officials from the Civil Aviation and Home Ministries, Gujarat government, State Disaster Response Authority, Ahmedabad police, Indian Air Force, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Intelligence Bureau, and Directorate of Forensic Sciences Services. Members will be of Joint Secretary rank or above. The committee has been given three months to conduct a comprehensive investigation, consult stakeholders, and bring in additional experts if required.  “We want this investigation to be holistic, transparent, and timely,” Naidu stated. Naidu also confirmed that the A...

Search and recovery teams continued operations for the third day at the site of India’s devastating Air India crash, which has now claimed at least 270 lives, officials have confirmed on Saturday. Image Source: Pubity on X The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed minutes after takeoff on Thursday. It struck a medical college hostel in a residential area near Ahmedabad’s airport. The crash killed 241 people onboard and at least 29 on the ground. Only one passenger has survived. Recovery teams, working through Friday, located an additional 25 bodies in the debris, officials confirmed. Dr. Dhaval Gameti at Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital told The Associated Press that the hospital had received 270 bodies. The lone survivor remains hospitalized but is recovering well. "He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon," Gameti said. The disaster ranks among India’s worst aviation accidents, with extensive recovery and investigation efforts still underway.

The sole survivor of the Air India crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives, described the moments after the aircraft went down as unbelievable.  Viswashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, was en route to London when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday. Image Source: TheIndependent on X Speaking to India’s national broadcaster from his hospital bed, Ramesh recalled how the plane appeared to struggle immediately after lifting off.  Green and white lights flashed before the aircraft accelerated but failed to gain sufficient altitude, ultimately crashing into a residential area near BJ Medical College. Ramesh, who suffered burns on his left hand, managed to walk a short distance in shock before local residents found him and arranged for his transport to a government hospital.  Dr. Dhaval Gameti, who is treating him, said Ramesh arrived disoriented with multiple injuries but is now in stable condition. Prime Minister Naren...

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has announced on Friday that the black box from the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which crashed in Ahmedabad, has been recovered. The device was located on the rooftop of the residential quarters of BJ Medical College, where the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff. Image Source: Stringer for IndianRepublic.in The Dreamliner was operating a scheduled flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick when it went down, striking the medical college complex situated near the airport perimeter. Officials confirmed that AAIB teams, supported by over 40 state government personnel, launched immediate recovery efforts alongside the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The agency stated, "The DFDR (Black Box) has been recovered from the rooftop." The black box, formally known as the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR), contains critical information about the aircraft's flight parameters and will play a key role in determining the cause of the ...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited the site of the devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 265 lives. After landing at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport, the Prime Minister proceeded directly to the crash location in the Meghaninagar area. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel accompanied him during the visit. Image Source: Stringer for IndianRepublic.in The tragic accident occurred Thursday afternoon when a London-bound Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport. The aircraft struck the BJ Medical College complex, located just outside the airport perimeter, before bursting into flames. The flight was carrying 232 passengers and 10 crew members, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Of the 242 onboard, 169 were Indian nationals, along with 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian passenger. Only one person survived the crash. Among the casualties were four MBBS students and the wife of ...

Following the emerging security situation in Iran and the closure of its airspace, Air India has announced a series of flight diversions and returns affecting several of its international routes. The airline cited passenger safety as its top priority while confirming disruptions across major transcontinental services. Image Source: rameshsrivats on X The diversions and returns are as follows: AI130 (London Heathrow-Mumbai) has been diverted to Vienna; AI102 (New York-Delhi) to Sharjah; AI116 (New York-Mumbai) to Jeddah; AI2018 (London Heathrow-Delhi) to Mumbai; AI129 (Mumbai-London Heathrow) is returning to Mumbai; AI119 (Mumbai-New York) returning to Mumbai; AI103 (Delhi-Washington) returning to Delhi; AI106 (Newark-Delhi) returning to Delhi; AI188 (Vancouver-Delhi) diverted to Jeddah; AI101 (Delhi-New York) diverting to Frankfurt or Milan; AI126 (Chicago-Delhi) diverting to Jeddah; AI132 (London Heathrow-Bengaluru) to Sharjah; AI2016 (London Heathrow-Delhi) to Vienna; AI104 (Washingt...

An Air India passenger plane bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday in Ahmedabad with 244 people on board, according to officials. There is only one survivor. The aircraft went down near a medical college hostel close to the airport in Ahmedabad, the capital of Gujarat. Flames engulfed the site just as shockwaves rushed from twitter timelines to smaller towns and metropolitan cities of India. Parts of the fuselage scattered across the area. Firefighters and Indian army teams are engaged in debris removal and recovery operations. Image Source: TurbineTraveller on X Video footage showed the plane descending before disappearing behind residential buildings, followed by a fireball. The aircraft's tail cone with damaged stabilizer fins was found lodged atop a building near the crash site. Air India AI-171 crashed within one minute of take off from Ahmedabad airport. pic.twitter.com/lLirSXWB5q — Arvind Gunasekar (@arvindgunasekar) June 12, 2025 Indian Prime Minist...