Accident Overview
On a regularly scheduled service from Ahmedabad-Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport to London-Gatwick, Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, departed from runway 23 carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. After takeoff, the aircraft climbed to 625 feet with the landing gear still extended, then began to descend in a flat attitude before pitching up and colliding with several residential buildings near Ghoda Camp Road, approximately 1,500 meters from the runway end. The airplane was destroyed by impact and a subsequent fire. Weather conditions were reported as good at the time of the accident.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft rotation was completed very late. Airport CCTV analysis showed that the airplane ceased climbing about 12 seconds after rotation, and the impact occurred roughly 30 seconds after liftoff. A mayday call was issued shortly after takeoff. The RAM Air Turbine (RAT) was observed deployed, indicating possible engine issues.
Casualties and Damage
Local authorities confirmed that one passenger survived the crash, while 241 other occupants and 19 people on the ground were killed. Additionally, 67 people on the ground sustained injuries. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Preliminary Findings
The official preliminary report indicated that the aircraft reached a maximum recorded airspeed of 180 knots IAS at approximately 08:08:42 UTC. Immediately thereafter, the fuel cutoff switches for Engine 1 and Engine 2 transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF with a one-second gap. Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease as fuel supply was cut. The cockpit voice recording captured one pilot asking the other why the engines were cut off; the other pilot responded that he did not do it.