NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Ahmedabad, India, June 13, 2025: A team of U.S. investigators and aviation experts is playing a key role in the ongoing investigation into the deadly crash of Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that went down shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, killing 240 people.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Boeing, and GE Aerospace have joined India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in a joint probe. The international collaboration is part of standard procedure under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Annex 13 protocols, which grant investigative authority to the country of the crash while involving key stakeholders—in this case, the aircraft and engine manufacturers based in the United States.
The aircraft, manufactured by Boeing and powered by GE engines, crashed within minutes of takeoff on June 12. According to initial reports, a sudden loss of engine thrust is emerging as a possible cause of the accident. Investigators are also reviewing the aircraft’s takeoff configuration, including engine throttle settings, flap positions, and whether the landing gear was retracted.
On Friday, the aircraft’s black box—including both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder—was recovered from the rooftop of a nearby medical hostel. The data is expected to provide crucial insights into pilot actions, engine performance, and any onboard alerts in the seconds leading up to the crash.
Boeing and GE Aerospace have redeployed technical teams to Ahmedabad and canceled scheduled appearances at the Paris Air Show to focus on the investigation. Boeing, which is already under pressure due to recent safety concerns across its fleet, has not issued a public statement beyond confirming its support for the probe.
In Washington, President Donald Trump publicly addressed the tragedy, calling it “one of the worst in aviation history.” Speaking from the White House, he said, “If there’s anything we can do, we’ll be over there immediately,” offering American support to Indian authorities. He added, “Nobody had any idea what happened… it looks like it was flying just fine,” emphasizing the sudden nature of the disaster. Trump also mentioned giving India “a couple of pointers,” though he did not elaborate.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered condolences on behalf of the U.S. government and pledged full cooperation in the investigation.
India’s aviation regulator has ordered additional inspections of all 33 Boeing 787 aircraft in Air India’s fleet, though no grounding has been announced. Safety officials are also preserving debris and analyzing maintenance records as part of a comprehensive review.
The crash of AI171 is the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the model entered service in 2011, and one of the deadliest air disasters in India in recent years. A single passenger survived the crash and remains hospitalized.
An initial report from the AAIB, with input from the U.S. team, is expected in the coming weeks.
