The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, hailed as one of the most advanced long-haul aircraft in the world, has largely maintained a strong safety record since its debut. However, the tragic Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, marks the aircraft’s fatal accident and total hull loss, casting renewed scrutiny on the wide-body jet’s operational history.
Recent fatal crash – Air India Flight AI171 (June 12, 2025)
On June 12, 2025, a Boeing 787-8 operated by Air India crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport en route to London Gatwick. The aircraft, carrying 242 people including crew, crashed in the Meghaninagar area, triggering a large fire likely exacerbated by a full fuel load. The DGCA and Boeing are currently investigating the cause. This incident marks the first fatal crash involving a 787 Dreamliner.
Other major Boeing 787 incidents:
1. LATAM Airlines Flight 800 (March 2024)
A Boeing 787-9 on a Sydney–Auckland route experienced a sudden uncommanded descent during cruise. Around 50 passengers were injured due to violent shaking. Investigations revealed the pilot’s seat mechanism may have been inadvertently triggered by a flight attendant, causing loss of control inputs.
2. Battery-related incidents and global grounding (2013)
The 787’s lithium-ion battery design led to a series of serious issues in early 2013:
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Japan Airlines Flight 6 (January 2013, Boston): A fire broke out in the auxiliary power unit (APU) battery while parked.
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All Nippon Airways Flight 692 (January 2013, Takamatsu): Emergency landing due to cockpit smoke and battery fault.
These incidents prompted the FAA to ground the entire global 787 fleet for nearly three months—the first such grounding since the DC-10 in the 1970s.
3. Fuel leak incidents (2013)
Multiple cases of fuel leakage due to improperly assembled fuel line components were reported, raising concerns over assembly practices during early deliveries.
4. Engine-related issues (2011–present)
Some 787s equipped with GE’s GEnx engines experienced technical anomalies, including uncontained engine failures during testing, leading to FAA-mandated inspections and procedural changes.
5. Manufacturing and quality control lapses (2019–2022)
From 2019 onward, Boeing faced growing concerns over structural defects, including fuselage gaps and laminate wrinkles. These issues prompted a halt in deliveries for several months while Boeing re-evaluated its inspection and production protocols.
Despite these setbacks, the Boeing 787 has remained one of the safest long-haul aircraft, flying millions of passengers globally. However, with the Ahmedabad crash being the first fatal accident, global aviation authorities and Boeing are under pressure to ensure full transparency and improved safety measures moving forward.
