WEBDESK: In a tragic incident on Thursday, an Air India Boeing 787 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, claiming the lives of everyone on board. While early assessments from aviation experts are already pointing toward a disturbing cause, the pilot error.
According to renowned aviation analyst Geoffrey Thomas, a verified video of the Air India crash shows the aircraft descending rapidly before erupting in a large explosion. Thomas noted one especially alarming detail the aircraft’s flaps were retracted too early after takeoff, a move considered highly irregular and dangerous at such a critical stage of flight.
The Boeing 787 has an excellent safety record and is one of the most advanced aircraft in the world. A crash occurring just a minute after takeoff strongly suggests pilot error. pic.twitter.com/T89flVtmcy
— Hafsah H Malik (@TrascciaAlta88) June 12, 2025
Supporting this assessment, Marco Chan, a former commercial pilot and instructor, emphasized that such a mishandling of flap settings typically indicates human error inside the cockpit.
He pointed out pointed out that this could indicate human error if the flaps were not properly set.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, conditions at the time of the crash were clear and stable, with no clouds or adverse weather reported eliminating environmental factors as a possible cause. The Boeing 787-8 itself, introduced in 2011, has maintained an exceptional safety record with no fatal passenger accidents until now.
BBC Verify teams have confirmed the authenticity of the video showing the aircraft flying dangerously low over a residential area before the explosion. Experts continue to analyze this footage alongside flight data to better understand the exact sequence of events but the signs already suggest this was a preventable tragedy caused by a fatal pilot error
As global aviation authorities await official findings, early evidence points squarely toward pilot negligence, raising fresh concerns about safety oversight and procedural discipline within India’s fast-growing airline industry.
However, senior BJP leader and economist Subramanian Swamy has stirred political waters by demanding the resignation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. His sharp statement has ignited fresh debate about leadership, moral responsibility, and national unity in India during times of crisis.
When a train derailed in 1950s, Lal Bahadur Shashtri resigned. On the same morality I demand PM Modi, HM Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Naidu resign so that a free& fair inquiry is held. All that Modi and associates have been doing so far is galavanting which must stop must stop.
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) June 12, 2025
The Ahmedabad plane crash took place on June 12, 2025, when Air India Flight AI171 crashed shortly after takeoff. All 242 people on board lost their lives, along with heavy casualties reported on the ground. As the country grieves this devastating incident, Swamy’s remarks have added a new political dimension to the tragedy.
The Boeing 787-8 aircraft was carrying a total of 242 passengers and crew members. Among them were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian national, and seven Portuguese nationals. Authorities have confirmed that there were no survivors in the devastating incident, as rescue teams continue their operations at the crash site.
