Eelaththu Nilavan | Britain:
□. Catastrophic Explosion Shortly After Take-Off
A tragic aviation disaster has unfolded as an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, bound for Gatwick Airport in the UK, crashed moments after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport, India. Eyewitnesses reported a massive explosion mid-air, followed by wreckage crashing in flames, sparking fears of mass casualties.
The aircraft was carrying 242 people on board, including 53 British nationals, 169 Indian citizens, seven Portuguese, one Canadian, and 12 crew members.
Initial reports from Indian authorities confirm that “many people are feared to have died,” although the final death toll is yet to be officially confirmed. Emergency response units and local medical teams rushed to the crash site, where recovery operations are underway.
■. Global Leaders React
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the incident “devastating”, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as “heartbreaking beyond words”. The King of the United Kingdom has been briefed on the crash, according to Buckingham Palace. India’s Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said emergency hospitals in Gujarat have been mobilized for survivors.
Air India’s chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, issued a solemn statement calling it a “tragic accident and a devastating event.”
■. A History of Boeing 787 Dreamliner Troubles?
This incident once again places the Boeing 787 Dreamliner under scrutiny, a model that has faced recurring technical concerns since its debut. While praised for its fuel efficiency and advanced avionics, the Dreamliner’s history includes:
Battery fires (2013), caused a global fleet grounding.
The engine malfunctions in multiple regions.
Manufacturing quality-control issues in recent years at Boeing facilities.
FAA warnings about structural flaws in certain 787 units.
Boeing’s credibility took a major hit after the 737 MAX disasters in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people. The Dreamliner was expected to rebuild trust, but this new incident may shatter that fragile reputation again.
■.Boeing Aircraft Accidents Worldwide (Until 2025)
To understand the global state of aviation safety, it’s essential to review major accidents involving Boeing aircraft up to the year 2025.
The Boeing 737 series, including Classic, Next Generation (NG), and MAX variants, has experienced over 250 major accidents, with an estimated death toll exceeding 5,000 people. Notable disasters include Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, both involving the 737 MAX, which led to a global grounding of the fleet.
The Boeing 747, a long-time workhorse of international aviation, has been involved in over 60 serious accidents, resulting in more than 3,500 fatalities. Among the most infamous are the Korean Air Flight 007 shootdown and the catastrophic runway collision at Tenerife, which remains the deadliest aviation accident in history.
The Boeing 757 and 767 models together have been involved in more than 50 significant accidents, with a death toll of over 2,000 people. This includes the American Airlines Flight 77, which was hijacked during the 9/11 attacks, and the Lauda Air crash caused by in-flight thrust reverser deployment.
The Boeing 777, one of Boeing’s most reliable long-haul aircraft, has seen over 10 major incidents, with more than 800 fatalities. Key tragedies include Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which mysteriously disappeared, and Flight 17, which was shot down over Ukraine.
The newer Boeing 787 Dreamliner has so far been involved in five major incidents (as of 2025), with a combined toll of over 200 fatalities and injuries. Past concerns included battery fires, cockpit smoke, and now the devastating Gatwick-bound Air India crash.
Although Boeing has historically been seen as a benchmark for safe aviation, recent incidents, particularly involving newer aircraft models, have brought heightened scrutiny and public concern over its design, manufacturing, and regulatory practices.
■. Immediate Questions That Need Answers
This specific crash raises numerous urgent questions:
● Was there a structural failure or mid-air explosion?
● Did engine malfunction or fire contribute to the incident?
● Were there lapses in maintenance or pilot alerts?
● Was there sabotage or external interference?
Investigators are focusing on Flight Data Recorders (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVR) to reconstruct the final minutes. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.
■. Ongoing Investigations and Future Watchpoints
Joint investigative teams from India, the United States, and international safety agencies are actively examining the cause of the disaster.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India, the NTSB in the US, and the Boeing Safety Review Board are analyzing FDR, CVR, and recovered components.
GE Aviation, the engine manufacturer, is evaluating engine logs and failures.
■. Key Technical Focus Areas:
Possible engine failure, navigation system malfunction, fuel supply blockage, and electrical failures.
Investigations are also focused on why emergency evacuation protocols might not have worked.
■. Global Aviation Safety Responses:
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have called for independent re-verification of Boeing’s production standards.
Pilots’ unions, passenger rights groups, and global airline safety forums are pushing for stricter regulation on:
Pilot training,
Automated alert handling, and
Manufacturing tolerances.
◆. Public Safety and Trust Recovery:
Air India and Boeing have committed to transparent public communication.
Support for victims’ families will include financial, legal, and medical aid.
Future long-haul aircraft may integrate AI-based predictive maintenance and fault detection systems.
● This tragedy is a stark reminder that aviation safety is not just about engineering — it is about ethics, accountability, and rebuilding trust with every passenger who steps aboard.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Amizhthu’s editorial stance.
