A devastating tragedy struck last week when Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed just moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The impact was catastrophic—over 270 lives were lost, with only one survivor pulled from the wreckage. The plane came down in a residential area, its final stop a dining hall at BJ Medical College, turning a routine flight into a national heartbreak.
Investigators are still piecing together what happened. Early theories include possible engine failure, problems with the wing flaps or landing gear, or a stall caused by sudden loss of thrust. The flight’s black box and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered and will be crucial in understanding the chain of events.
As families mourn, scrutiny is intensifying—especially on Boeing.
Ed Pierson, a former Boeing manager turned whistleblower, spoke to NDTV about his long-standing concerns with the company’s manufacturing process. Pierson has previously warned that Boeing’s 787 production line was plagued by rushed deadlines, exhausted workers, and faulty parts. He stopped short of linking the crash directly to these issues but said reports of pre-flight malfunctions—such as a passenger noticing the air conditioning wasn’t working—raised red flags. “That’s a little bit of a concern,” he noted.
Authorities from India, the UK, and the US are now working together on the investigation. While answers may take time, one thing is clear: the world is watching, and grieving.
Our hearts go out to every family shattered by this unimaginable loss.
