How safe is the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, the jet involved in Ahmedabad plane crash?

A major aviation tragedy unfolded in Ahmedabad on Thursday after an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as flight AI171 to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

In a statement, Air India confirmed that the flight had taken off from Ahmedabad at 1338 and was carrying 242 people on board, including passengers and crew.  Among them were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 1 Canadian, and 7 Portuguese nationals.

According to reports, all 242 people are reported to have been killed in the tragic incident so far.

Dramatic footage from the scene captured the burning wreckage near the runway, with flames and thick plumes of black smoke rising into the air as emergency crews raced to carry out rescue efforts.

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The incident comes as the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, the aircraft involved in the crash, was in Ahmedabad for the last 2 days, due to a technical snag, government sources told News18. The aircraft has, in recent years, faced repeated scrutiny for technical issues.

Here’s what we know about it

All about Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

First introduced in 2011, the 787-8 was the debut model in Boeing’s Dreamliner series.

Over the years, it gained popularity for its fuel efficiency, innovative design, and enhanced passenger comfort. The aircraft is widely used for long-haul routes, with Air India adding it to its fleet in December 2012.

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This marked a significant fleet modernisation step for Air India, as the Dreamliners, along with Boeing 777s, began to replace the older Boeing 747s on international routes.

Some of the world’s major airlines operate the 787-8, including American Airlines, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, United Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines.

According to Boeing’s official site, the Dreamliner fleet has transported over a billion passengers in under 14 years.

The 787-8 typically seats between 242 and 290 passengers, depending on the airline’s layout. It can fly up to 13,530 kilometres non-stop, connecting far-flung cities without layovers.

The aircraft is built using composite materials, which make up around 50 per cent of its primary structure, helping reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency.

It’s also packed with advanced tech—including fly-by-wire controls, state-of-the-art avionics, and a Synthetic Vision System (SVS) that gives pilots a 3D view of terrain and obstacles, especially useful in poor visibility.

Passengers often praise the 787-8 for its comfort. Features like a lower cabin altitude (equivalent to 6,000 feet), higher humidity, and improved air filtration make long flights less tiring.

Large windows with electronic dimming are another passenger favourite, offering better views and reducing glare.

While the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is known for its reliability and passenger comfort, it has faced a series of technical issues in recent years, affecting its track record.

History of technical snags in Boeing 787-8

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has previously come under technical scrutiny for a range of issues.

Earlier this year, The Economic Times reported multiple diversions of a Dreamliner with registration code N819AN due to hydraulic leaks and flap malfunctions, resulting in several flight cancellations within just 25 days.

Concerns around the aircraft’s manufacturing have also made headlines.

Last year, a Boeing engineer and whistleblower, Sam Salehpour, who has been with the company for over a decade, raised alarm bells in The New York Times and CNN reports, alleging that the company took shortcuts when manufacturing 787 and 777 Dreamliner models.

According to Salehpour, parts of the 787’s fuselage are improperly fastened and could potentially break apart mid-air after thousands of flights.

Talking about his claims, he told CNN, “I am doing this not because I want Boeing to fail, but because I want it to succeed and prevent crashes from happening. The truth is, Boeing can’t keep going the way it is. It needs to do a little bit better, I think.”

While Boeing had denied the allegations, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had launched an investigation into the claims.

The issue even reached Capitol Hill, where Senator Richard Blumenthal, chair of the Senate subcommittee on investigations, said in a statement to The New York Times, “Repeated, shocking allegations about Boeing’s manufacturing failings point to an appalling absence of safety culture and practices — where profit is prioritised over everything else.”

Following the Thursday crash in Ahmedabad, Boeing’s stock price dipped 7.5 per cent in pre-market trading.

What we know about rescue operations

The crash took place shortly after takeoff. Investigations are underway by Air India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to determine the exact cause.

In a statement, DGCA said the flight was operated by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, an LTC with 8,200 flying hours, and a co-pilot with 1,100 hours of experience.

“As per ATC, the aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 13:39 IST from runway 23. It gave a MAYDAY call to ATC, but thereafter, no response was given to subsequent calls. The aircraft, shortly after takeoff, fell outside the airport perimeter. Heavy black smoke was seen rising from the accident site,” the DGCA said.

Rescue efforts were launched swiftly. The central government has assured full support, and emergency teams were deployed immediately.

Three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams with 90 personnel have already been moved from Gandhinagar to the crash site. Three more teams are being mobilised from Vadodara, according to the NDRF.

President Droupadi Murmu conveyed her grief, describing the crash as a “heart-rending disaster.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu and is closely monitoring the situation.

With input from agencies