India Prime Crime Desk, Devender Singh, From Takeoff to Tragedy: How a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Crashed in 60 Seconds On the afternoon of June 4, everything seemed routine. Air India Flight AI171 departed from Ahmedabad bound for London. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, registration VT-ANB, took off smoothly with 230 passengers and 12 crew members on board. Captain Sumit Sabarwal, with 8,200 hours of experience, was at the helm, assisted by co-pilot Clive Kunder, who had logged 1,100 hours.
How Did the Tragedy Unfold? A Possible Scenario
Location: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad
Incident: Crash within 4–5 minutes of takeoff
Timeline: A catastrophe in just 60 seconds
0:00: Aircraft takes off, all systems normal.
0:20: At 1,000 feet, a strange noise from the engine.
0:30: Cockpit alarm sounds: Engine Failure!
0:35: Captain Sumit responds, “Maintain heading, engine one off!”
0:40: Second engine loses thrust, power fading.
0:45: Co-pilot radios ATC: “Mayday! Emergency return!”
0:55: Aircraft flies dangerously low over a residential area.
1:00: Plane crashes into a house in Meghani Nagar—explosion.
What Happened Inside the Cockpit?
Takeoff Process (0–2 Minutes)
Pilots accelerated down the runway, reaching V1 (decision speed) and VR (rotate speed). The plane lifted off.
All readings—engines, speed, altitude—were normal.
Engine Failure or Bird Strike? (2–3 Minutes)
Suddenly, one engine stopped providing thrust or began vibrating.
The cockpit’s Engine Failure Warning alarm blared.
The captain shouted, “Engine One Failure! Maintain heading, climb slowly!”
Emergency Handling (3–4 Minutes)
Captain followed Standard Operating Procedures (SOP): fuel cutoff, fire switch on, emergency checklist initiated.
Co-pilot contacted ATC: “Mayday, Mayday, Air India 171—engine failure. Request immediate return or emergency landing.”
What Was ATC Doing?
Air Traffic Control cleared nearby traffic and prepared the runway.
ATC instructed: “AI171, turn heading 180, descend to 2,500 feet, runway 23 cleared, emergency services on standby.”
If both engines failed, controlling the aircraft at low altitude would have been nearly impossible.
Eyewitness Accounts
Residents of Meghani Nagar reported a loud rumble and jarring noise.
“We saw a fireball plummeting from the sky,” one witness said.
The aircraft’s nose was engulfed in flames, with fire rising two to three stories high.
Nearby Nursing College Hostel
The crash site was near a nursing college hostel and mess. Students were eating lunch when the explosion shattered windows and cut power.
Five students were evacuated with minor injuries from smoke and shock. One student fainted and was hospitalized.
How Did One Passenger Survive?
Fire Spread: A Horrific 60 Seconds
0:00–0:20: The Dreamliner reached 800–1,000 feet when an engine burst or caught fire. The pilot issued a “Mayday” call.
0:20–0:30: Fire erupted in engine one (left side), causing an instant blast as fuel ignited. Wing fuel tanks exploded, spreading fire to the fuselage.
0:30–0:40: The cockpit was overwhelmed by fire due to proximity to engines and electrical systems. The firewall held for only seconds.
0:40–0:50: Smoke filled the business and mid-sections. Oxygen masks dropped, but passengers were too shocked to react. Cabin insulation and wiring began melting.
0:50–1:00: Fire spread forward to back, but the tail section was less affected before the crash. The plane hit the ground, with flames concentrated at the front.
Why the Rear Passenger Survived
The survivor was seated near the tail, where flames hadn’t fully reached.
Post-crash, they escaped through a breach or emergency exit.
They sustained severe burns but had seconds to breathe, enabling survival.
Seating Plan vs. Safety: Which Seats Are Safer?
Aircraft Sections and Risk Levels
Section | Risk Level | Reason |
|---|---|---|
Front (Cockpit + Business Class) | High | First to impact during a crash |
Middle (Near Wings) | Medium | Fuel tanks increase explosion risk |
Rear (Tail Section) | Low | Last to be affected in crashes |
Scientific Insights
A 2007 Popular Mechanics study found rear-seat passengers had a 40% higher survival rate.
FAA reports suggest seats near over-wing exits aid quick evacuation.
Seat 11: A Case Study
Seat 11 (in a Boeing 787-8) is slightly behind the wings, in the “survivable zone.”
Proximity to emergency exits and reduced initial impact increase survival odds.
Safest Seats
Seat Location | Safety Score | Reason |
|---|---|---|
Rear Window | ✅ High | Far from impact, near exits |
Over-Wing Exit Row | ✅ Medium-High | Quick evacuation possible |
Business Class Front | ❌ Low | First to face impact |
Above Wings | ❌ Medium-Low | Fuel tank risk |
Survival Tips
Listen: Pay attention to safety briefings.
Shoes On: Wear footwear for evacuation.
Count Exits: Memorize the nearest exit for dark or smoky conditions.
Stay Calm: Panic causes delays and fatalities.
Technical Facts: Why Fire Starts at the Front
Technical Factor | Explanation |
|---|---|
Engines Forward | Located under wings or front, they’re prone to initial failure. |
Fuel Tanks in Wings | Engine failure can ignite fuel, starting fires. |
Airflow | Fire spreads with the aircraft’s motion—front to back. |
Fire Containment | Tail has fewer electronics and more air gaps, reducing fire spread. |
Rescue and Relief Efforts
Over 10 fire brigade vehicles arrived.
Police and NDRF evacuated the area.
Two houses were heavily damaged, trapping several people in debris.
Why Did the Crash Happen in One Minute?
A Boeing 787-8 has two engines. If one fails post-takeoff and the second can’t provide enough thrust, returning at low altitude is nearly impossible.
Takeoff is the most vulnerable phase: low speed, low height, minimal reaction time.
Possible causes: bird strike, mechanical failure, or automation misreading data.
Who’s to Blame?
Pilots? Unlikely—experienced and followed SOP.
ATC? No—alerted promptly and cleared the runway.
Maintenance/Manufacturer? Possible, if pre-existing engine issues existed.
Aircraft Details: VT-ANB
Model: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
In Service: Since December 2013
Capacity: Up to 242 passengers, long-haul
Known For: Lightweight, fuel-efficient, but past reports of battery fires and engine failures.
What Happens When an Engine Fails?
Change | Description |
|---|---|
Alarm System | Engine failure or fire detection alarms trigger instantly. |
Auto Cutoff | Oil pressure or temperature spikes activate auto-shutdown or fire suppression. |
Electrical Load Shift | The remaining engine takes over system load. |
Hydraulics/Air Systems | Flaps and landing gear may slow with one engine down. |
Fire System | Pilots activate fire extinguisher bottles if fire is detected. |
Likely Causes
Engine failure and inability to maintain control.
Dual engine failure (extremely rare).
Bird strike causing an engine blast.
Technical failure post-takeoff, preventing a low-altitude return.
Why Did This Happen?
Preliminary investigations suggest engine failure or a bird strike caused loss of control immediately after takeoff.
Similar Incidents
AI-855 (1978, Mumbai): Crashed after takeoff, 213 dead.
SpiceJet (2020, Kozhikode): Skidded off runway.
Ethiopian Airlines 302 (2019): 737 MAX crashed minutes after takeoff, 157 dead.
Air France 447 (2009): Sensor failure, crashed in Atlantic.
Japan Airlines 123 (1985): Only four rear passengers survived.
Air India Express (2020, Kozhikode): Plane broke apart, some survived in tail.
Pan Am 103 (1988): Bomb blast, tail section less damaged.
