Shocking Update: Air India 787 Crash Kills 291 After Takeoff from Half a Runway, New Details Released

Today, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, en route to London Gatwick, killing 241 of the 242 people onboard and at least 50 on the ground. A shocking revelation has emerged: the pilot used only half of the 11,499-foot Runway 23, with just 5,700 feet for takeoff, far short of the 9,000 feet typically required for a fully fueled Boeing 787. Aviation experts suggest this critical error, combined with a possible flap misconfiguration potentially set to 0 instead of 5 or 5 prevented degrees due the plane from generating enough lift at 37°C with a full fuel load, causing it to stall at 625 feet and crash into a medical college hostel in Meghani Nagar. “The aircraft took off as soon as it reached its VR speed, but the engine couldn’t generate enough thrust,” noted a an aviation analyst on X, highlighting the piloting error as a likely cause.

The tragedy has left families in anguish, desperately seeking news regarding their loved ones. “My younger brother and sister were on board. They were going to London to meet their daughter… I have no information about them,” one man told reporters. Another relative shared, “My cousin was on board. He was flying to London for his business. My uncle and family members reached Ahmedabad, but there’s no official confirmation.” Poonam Patel, at a local hospital, said, “My sister-in-law was going to London. Within an hour, I got news the plane had crashed.” The sole survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national in seat 11A, recounted, “Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise, and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.”

Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran expressed grief, stating, “With profound sorrow, I confirm that Air India Flight 171 was involved in a tragic accident today. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected. At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families.” The airline established a hotline (1800 5691 444) and deployed caregivers to Ahmedabad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the crash “heartbreaking beyond words,” while Gujarat’s Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel ordered “war footing” rescue efforts. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing are assisting India’s investigation, with Boeing shares dropping 7.5% in premarket trading, reflecting the first fatal Boeing 787 crash since 2009.