WASHINGTON- Boeing’s reputation suffered another devastating blow on June 12, 2025, when Air India (AI) Flight 171,a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, India.
The aircraft plummeted into a densely populated neighbourhood in the west-central Indian city, which houses nearly eight million residents.
Recovery teams retrieved 204 bodies from the crash site by Thursday evening local time, though local news sources reported 242 fatalities with one survivor.
The plane’s wreckage struck the dining area of B.J. Medical College, killing 5 medical students and injuring approximately 50 others.
Investigators have not determined the crash’s cause, leaving questions about pilot error, mechanical failure, or other factors unanswered.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg issued condolences to the victims’ families and affected Ahmedabad residents. The executive confirmed discussions with Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, offering full company support for the investigation.
Boeing deferred information requests to India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, following United Nations International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) protocol Annexure 13.
The Aviation Safety Network database indicates this marks the first reported crash of the Dreamlinersince its 2011 debut.
A 2014 hidden-camera video from Boeing’s Charleston, South Carolina assembly plant revealed troubling worker attitudes about Dreamliner safety. Al Jazeera published the footage, showing an undercover investigation at the facility.
The anonymous whistleblower behind the video claimed Boeing concealed 90% of the 787’s problems, describing the situation as “an iceberg.” Boeing representatives declined to comment on the footage.
The FAA received more than 200 whistleblower reports about Boeing during 12 months, primarily concerning manufacturing defects and inadequate inspections.
Barnett was scheduled to complete his final deposition on March 9, 2024, but was found dead in his vehicle after failing to appear. Police ruled the death a suicide. His brother, Michael Barnett, told CBS that the legal battle had taken an emotional toll on the whistleblower, who continued pursuing his claims because he believed it was “the right thing to do.”
The Dreamliner crisis compounds Boeing’s ongoing struggles with safety concerns following two fatal 737 Max crashes within 5 months several years ago.
