The Air India plane crash was the first accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and also the most serious air accident in recent years.
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a wide-body aircraft commonly used for long-haul flights. The plane first took off in December 2013 and was handed over to Air India in January 2014.
As of June 12, Air India is operating 34 Dreamliners, including the crashed one. The company also plans to buy at least 20 more. There are currently more than 1,100 Dreamliners operating worldwide.
Initial data shows that the plane's signal disappeared at 1:48 p.m., less than 1 minute after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad City. The plane only reached a maximum altitude of about 190m, while the airport was about 60m high.
It is unclear why the plane lost altitude and crashed into a residential area, creating a giant fireball that killed people on the ground.
Air accident can be caused by many reasons, from technical errors, bird collisions to pilot errors, and is often a combination of many factors.
Rescue teams will search the black box, which includes cockpit recorders and flight data recorders, to provide information to investigators.
Investigators will consider many aspects: Aircraft maintenance records, pilot operations, aircraft locations and status of departments such as the suction wing, and wing, the pilot's recent training and resting process, as well as weather conditions during the day, when the temperature reached nearly 38 degrees Celsius.
Video from the scene, including the moment the plane took off from Ahmedabad, will also be analyzed.
According to international practice, the country where the accident occurred will lead the investigation, with the participation of the Boeing aircraft maker, the GE Aerospace engine maker, and US investigators.
It is not yet possible to conclude and have a final report on the cause of the accident that may not be available until next year. However, some experts believe that the cause of the problem can be ruled out due to a manufacturing defect, because the plane has been in operation for more than 10 years.
I dont think its a matter of manufacturing or assembling, said Jeff Guzzetti, a former aviation safety investigator with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Committee (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He said it was too early to pinpoint the cause, as air crashes are often the result of multiple problems at the same time.
Boeing has previously encountered some problems with the Dreamliner line, but there is no sign of a direct involvement in this incident.
The delivery of the Dreamliner was delayed for nearly a year until mid-2022 due to manufacturing errors, some body parts were assembled at standard distances.
When the Dreamliner first went into operation in 2011, it was also temporarily banned for inspection due to concerns about lithium battery burning.
Boeing is already in a safety and manufacturing crisis. The airline has been criticized for two 737 Max crashes. The most recent was an emergency door opening on a Max 9 in early 2024.
The impact on Boeing in this plane crash will depend on the conclusion of the investigation.
According to Boeing's website, the company still has orders for 900 Dreamliners.
