Flight to London Gatwick crashes at airport in India .June 12 th 2025

[indicolite22]

It's interesting that the survivor mentioned hearing a bang:

It's unclear what prompted the mayday call, but the flight's sole survivor has told Indian media that he heard a loud bang as the plane struggled to gain altitude.

What could have caused Air India plane to crash in 30 seconds?

Experts told the BBC that a flap issue, engine failure or a bird strike are among the possible causes of the crash.

www.bbc.com

A bang could indicate an engine event, e.g. a bird strike, but nothing else known so far points to that.

 

[indicolite22]

I was in aviation for over 40 years and have spoken to a Pilot friend….his thought was they retracted the flaps instead of the landing gear.

This is the prevailing theory among experts ATM. We might learn relatively quickly (after recorder analysis) if that was the case.

 

[Dotta]

"Boeing experts and UK and US aviation officials join Air India crash investigation.​

While issues such as
pilot error, maintenance and bird strikes will be likely avenues of exploration in the eventual investigation,
investigators will be looking into what various experts said appeared to be a thrust or engine failure.

Footage appeared to show the 787’s landing gear apparently unretracted
and, according to some accounts,
the wing flaps in an unusual position for takeoff.

India’s aviation regulator has directed Air India
to carry out additional maintenance and safety inspections on its 33-strong remaining Boeing 787 fleet,
but not grounded the model.

Boeing said
it would defer to India’s AAIB in line with the international aviation protocol known as annex 13,
which also requires officials from the US to join the investigation due to it being the country of manufacture,
and UK investigators due to the number of Britons onboard."

Boeing experts and UK and US aviation officials join Air India crash investigation

Unexplained descent of Boeing 787 before deadly crash has cast fresh shadows over US aircraft manufacturer

www.theguardian.com

 

[indicolite22]

Civil aviation minister to brief media at 1.30pm today, first after Ahmedabad plane crash. (That's 8am UTC)

Ahmedabad Plane Crash, Flight Crash in Ahmedabad Live: Police recover black box from crash site

Air India Ahmedabad Plane Crash News Live: An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed sh

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

[Dotta]

"King Charles ​

orders royals to wear black armbands ​

for Trooping the Colour ​

as mark of respect for Air India crash victims.​

King Charles has ordered royals to wear black armbands in rememberance of those killed in the Air India plane crash for Trooping the Colour today.

The monarch has requested a minute's silence in tribute to the 241 passengers and crew killed when a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for Gatwick Airport came down on Thursday in the Indian city of Ahmedabad.

Black armbands will be worn by the head of state and senior royals riding in the ceremony to mark the King's official birthday.

The King issued a written message soon after the plane crash saying he was 'desperately shocked by the terrible events' and expressed his 'deepest possible sympathy'."

Royals to wear armbands for Trooping the Colour after Air India crash

The monarch has requested the moment of reflection in tribute to the 241 passengers and crew killed when a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for Gatwick Airport came down on Thursday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[emirates1957]

YES SKIGH: A passenger who was on this plane on an earlier flight complained about power failure on the plane! Oh geez....just wondering if there was a "main power source on the fritz?"
Maybe something similar to a breaker on an electrical panel going bad or shutting down because it is being overloaded? I remember the term "flipped a breaker" due to high temperatures when I lived in a really hot summer location....Wasn't it 104 degrees at the airport?

Video shows ‘nothing working’ on Air India plane

Electrical services on the Air India flight that crashed with 242 passengers onboard were not working hours beforehand, it has been claimed.

www.yahoo.com

Spoke to ex husband (friendly terms) ….retired Qantas LAME of 40 years….absolutely no connection….aint no “flipped breaker’ on a highly sophisticated aircraft.

 

[indicolite22]

Aviation Ministry Press Briefing On Ahmedabad Plane Crash LIVE | Air India Plane Crash Updates:

'Plane had completed Paris-Delhi-Ahmedabad sector without any issues, pilot's last message was Mayday', says aviation ministry

Ahmedabad Plane Crash, Flight Crash in Ahmedabad Live: Police recover black box from crash site

Air India Ahmedabad Plane Crash News Live: An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed sh

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

[thinker47]

Spoke to ex husband (friendly terms) ….retired Qantas LAME of 40 years….absolutely no connection….aint no “flipped breaker’ on a highly sophisticated aircraft.

Likewise - friendly ex, 35 years senior captain - 20,000 hours or so... said 'I don't know, I wasn't flying it and neither were any of these so-called experts. Only people who know for sure lost their lives. Wait and see.' Very typical circumspect pilot response. If things go wrong, don't guess - get the book out.

 

[Officer Dibble]

It's interesting that the survivor mentioned hearing a bang:

It's unclear what prompted the mayday call, but the flight's sole survivor has told Indian media that he heard a loud bang as the plane struggled to gain altitude.

What could have caused Air India plane to crash in 30 seconds?

Experts told the BBC that a flap issue, engine failure or a bird strike are among the possible causes of the crash.

www.bbc.com

A bang could indicate an engine event, e.g. a bird strike, but nothing else known so far points to that.

could the bang have been when the rear landing gear hit the canteen building?

 

[Skigh]

The terrifying moment when Air India plane crashed into a canteen

The BBC speaks to eyewitnesses and survivors on the ground to reveal what happened when the Air India plane crashed.

www.bbc.co.uk

The BBC has spoken to eyewitnesses, including students who were in the hostel, along with friends of the trainee doctors who died and their teachers, to piece together what happened in those terrifying few seconds - and the aftermath that followed.
People on the ground nearby couldn't immediately work out what had happened.

A doctor, who works with the college's kidney sciences department, says he and his colleagues were in their building, about 500 metres away, when they heard a "deafening sound" outside.

"At first, we thought it was lightning. But then we wondered, could that be possible in 40C dry heat?"

 

[ilovewings]

I watch "Air Disasters" quite often on the Smithsonian channel-- One thing I have learned is that the experts who investigate these horrific crashes do not jump to conclusions-- it takes a good long time to investigate a plane crash of this magnitude. There are often multiple causes for a crash. That man that survived- what a miracle. In 1987 here in Detroit Michigan there was a plane crash with one survivor: a little girl: her parents were killed as was everyone but her. Her name is Cecelia Cichan (sp)--- reporters have followed her to this day-----

 

[indicolite22]

could the bang have been when the rear landing gear hit the canteen building?

That would have been the impact. The plane disintegrated from that point. I wonder if the survivor at any point lost consciousness due to the impact. He was on the side of the plane that fell on the ground (not on the building).

 

[ilovewings]

delete

 

[Charlot123]

YES SKIGH: A passenger who was on this plane on an earlier flight complained about power failure on the plane! Oh geez....just wondering if there was a "main power source on the fritz?"
Maybe something similar to a breaker on an electrical panel going bad or shutting down because it is being overloaded? I remember the term "flipped a breaker" due to high temperatures when I lived in a really hot summer location....Wasn't it 104 degrees at the airport?

Video shows ‘nothing working’ on Air India plane

Electrical services on the Air India flight that crashed with 242 passengers onboard were not working hours beforehand, it has been claimed.

www.yahoo.com

What I paid attention to is that the difference between the earlier flight’s arrival and this one departing was two hours.

I don’t know what is the required time but 2 hours doesn’t seem a lot for the maintenance. JMO.

There are many versions of what might have gone wrong on the Internet. Given how massive the tragedy is, and the sheer horror of the catastrophe, I am abstaining from making own judgement. I am merely asking questions.

Once again, very sorry for all the victims of this accident. My condolences to their relatives and the beloved ones. To the Republc of India and the state of Gujarat.

 

[musicaljoke]

What I paid attention to is that the difference between the earlier flight’s arrival and this one departing was two hours.

I don’t know what is the required time but 2 hours doesn’t seem a lot for the maintenance. JMO.

There are many versions of what might have gone wrong on the Internet. Given how massive the tragedy is, and the sheer horror of the catastrophe, I am abstaining from making own judgement. I am merely asking questions.

Once again, very sorry for all the victims of this accident. My condolences to their relatives and the beloved ones. To the Republc of India and the state of Gujarat.

Flights generally have a quick maintenance protocol on connections such as this one. The more intensive maintenance protocol takes several hours, but the plane is taken out of service for those checks which occur about once every 500 flying hours. Two hours would be plenty of time for the normal routine checks. (Pilot in the family.)

 

[CriLondon]

Is anybody aware if there are any images of the wings after the crash (or presumably whatever is left of them as with that kind of explosion i wouldn't expect too see much as a lot fuel would have been in the wing tanks at that stage ) ?
TYIA

 

[Dotta]

From my country's MSM

"Air crash in India. Death toll rises.

The Air India plane crash in India,
which occurred on Thursday shortly after takeoff,
has had tragic consequences.

Indian police have reported 279 victims.

Of the 242 people on board,
only one survived.

There were 230 passengers and 12 crew members on board.
Additionally, at least 38 people died on the ground.

Earlier reports put the death toll at 265.

The death toll could rise.
DNA tests are required to identify the bodies."

Bilans ofiar wciąż rośnie. Wstrząsająca liczba zabitych w Indiach

Katastrofa samolotu Air India w Indiach, do której doszło w czwartek tuż po starcie maszyny, przyniosła tragiczne skutki. Indyjska policja informuje już o 279 ofiarach. Z 242 osób na pokładzie przeżyła tylko jedna.

wiadomosci.wp.pl

 

[emirates1957]

Likewise - friendly ex, 35 years senior captain - 20,000 hours or so... said 'I don't know, I wasn't flying it and neither were any of these so-called experts. Only people who know for sure lost their lives. Wait and see.' Very typical circumspect pilot response. If things go wrong, don't guess - get the book out.

Thanks Thinker just spat my coffee out in laughter….first words out of my ex’s mouth was “I don’t know I didn’t service it”.