What happened
On the scheduled flight AI171, a Boeag 787-8 Dreamliner departed from Ahmedabad-Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport's runway 23, bound for London-Gatwick. The aircraft was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. During the initial climb, the aircraft reached an altitude of 625 feet while the landing gear remained extended. Shortly after rotation, the aircraft's ascent ceased, and it began a descent. The flight path transitioned from a flat attitude to an increased angle of attack, leading to a collision with several residential structures near Ghoda Camp Road, approximately 1,500 metres from the runway threshold.
The impact and subsequent fire resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. Following the collision, the crew issued a mayday distress signal. The crash resulted in 241 fatalities among the aircraft occupants, with only one passenger surviving the event. The disaster also claimed the lives of 19 individuals on the ground and caused injuries to 67 others in the surrounding area. CCTV footage from the airport indicates that the aircraft stopped climbing roughly 12 seconds after rotation and struck the buildings approximately 30 seconds after liftoff.
Findings
Evidence suggests that the rotation of the aircraft was completed very late on the runway. During the flight, the deployment of the RAM Air Turbine (RAT) was observed, which indicates that the aircraft was experiencing engine-related issues. While weather conditions were reported as good, the aircraft's inability to maintain altitude and the configuration of the landing gear during the climb were significant factors in the sequence of events.