Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad: Why this tragedy has shocked the world

Fire and Emergency Services personnel at work following the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad

For more than a decade, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was hailed as one of the safest and most advanced aircraft in the skies, until that reputation was shattered in seconds when a London-bound Air India flight crashed in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad on Thursday. As many as 241 of the 242 people on board were killed in what has been one of the worst aviation tragedies in recent history.

The crash has sent shockwaves across the global aviation community and triggered renewed scrutiny of Boeing’s quality and safety standards. Boeing 787 Dreamliners have had issues in the past, causing injuries, but no previous incidents have involved fatalities, according to the Aviation Safety Network.

Launched into service in 2011, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was designed as a next-generation aircraft focused on fuel efficiency, lightweight composite materials, and enhanced passenger comfort. Over the past decade, the 787 had amassed an impressive safety record.

According to data reviewed by Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, the 787 fleet – which includes the 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 variants – had logged over 1.5 million flights without a single fatal crash. That made it one of the safest wide-body aircraft in the sky – until the tragedy in Ahmedabad.

The first Dreamliner was delivered in 2011 to Japan’s All Nippon Airways. Today, over 1,100 are in service. Air India operates nearly 30 of them for international routes. The crashed plane, a 787-8, was built in 2013.

The popular airlines using the aircraft include American Airlines, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, Air India, United Airlines, and Ethiopian Airlines.

This crash is alarming not only because of the fatalities involved but also because it breaks the Dreamliner’s clean safety streak. The aircraft crashed just moments after taking off from the runway and crashed into a building. It was piloted by experienced crew, and reports suggest a catastrophic failure occurred at just 625 feet altitude. While several theories are making the rounds, possibility of engine failure cannot be ruled out at the moment.

The crash comes as Boeing is still dealing with legal trouble over two deadly 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people. Last month, Boeing reached a deal with the US Justice Department to avoid criminal charges by admitting it obstructed oversight, paying a fine, compensating victims’ families, and investing in safety—though many families opposed the deal, which still needs court approval.

Boeing has faced other safety issues too. In January 2024, a panel blew off a 737 Max 9 mid-flight on an Alaska Airlines plane, forcing Boeing to redesign the part. In April 2024, the FAA began investigating a whistleblower claim that parts of the 787 Dreamliner fuselage – like the one that crashed in India – were improperly fastened and could break apart after repeated use. Boeing said its testing showed no immediate safety risk.

Despite these concerns, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg called 2025 a “turnaround year,” after the company posted better-than-expected results in April.

Given the Dreamliner’s wide usage by major international carriers, Thursday’s crash is likely to prompt fresh safety audits and regulator inquiries around the world. Airlines in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas use 787s for long-haul routes, from New Delhi to London to Sydney to New York.

Airlines may temporarily ground or limit the use of Dreamliners while awaiting investigation outcomes, especially if systemic faults are suspected.

For Boeing, this is yet another blow to its credibility — especially if the investigation reveals a design or manufacturing fault in the Dreamliner.

The recovery of the aircraft's black box -- the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder – will help understand what happened in the last crucial moments.

For the first three months of 2025, Boeing reported a narrower loss of $31 million compared with the previous year. CEO Kelly Ortberg said Boeing made progress on stabilising operations during the quarter.

The stepped-up government scrutiny and the workers’ strike resulted in Boeing's aircraft deliveries sliding last year.

Boeing said it supplied 348 jetliners in 2024, which was a third fewer than the 528 that it reported for the previous year.

The company delivered less than half the number of commercial aircraft to customers than its main rival Airbus, which reported delivering 766 commercial jets in 2023.

Still, Boeing's troubles haven't turned off airline customers from buying its jets. Last month the company secured big orders from two Middle Eastern customers. The deals included a $96 billion order for 787 and 777X jets from Qatar, which it said was the biggest order for 787s and wide body jets in the company's.