{"id":50016,"date":"2025-06-13T10:15:36","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T04:45:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=50016"},"modified":"2025-06-13T11:39:47","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T06:09:47","slug":"air-india-787-crash-near-ahmedabad-causes-aircraft-history-safety-insights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/air-india-787-crash-near-ahmedabad-causes-aircraft-history-safety-insights\/","title":{"rendered":"Air India 787 Crash Near Ahmedabad: Causes, Aircraft History &#038; Safety Insights"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Air India 787 Crash Latest News<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner flying from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed shortly after takeoff, with 242 people on board. The crash occurred in Meghani Nagar, a densely populated area near Ahmedabad airport, sending thick black smoke into the sky.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cause of the crash was not immediately known.\u00a0Most aviation accidents typically happen during takeoff or landing phases.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boeing 787 Dreamliner<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boeing introduced the 787 in 2007 as a next-generation, long-haul jet, building on the success of its 777 predecessor to offer a more fuel-efficient variant.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first commercial Boeing 787 took flight in 2012. The aircraft involved in recent crash entered Air India\u2019s fleet in 2014.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The crash intensifies scrutiny on Boeing, which has faced global criticism since the two 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Features of Boeing 787<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Structure:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Made from carbon fibre composite, lighter than traditional aluminium bodies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fuel Efficiency:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Consumes 25% less fuel than older models.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Comfort:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Spacious cabins, large windows, improved cabin pressure and humidity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Variants:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Safety Concerns and Investigations<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><b>US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Scrutiny:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Multiple investigations into Boeing 787 production practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Whistleblower Allegations<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Sam Salehpour (2024):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Claimed fuselage sections were improperly fastened, posing long-term safety risks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>John Barnett (2019):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Accused Boeing of using substandard parts; found dead in 2024 under suspicious circumstances.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Incidents:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2013: Global grounding due to lithium-ion battery fires.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2024: Latam Airlines 787 plunged mid-flight due to human error.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why Most Plane Crashes Occur During Takeoff and Landing<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data has shown that most crashes take place during landing, takeoff, or the phases immediately before\/after these two events.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Statistics<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per the IATA Data (2005\u20132023):<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Landing phase: 53% of all accidents<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Takeoff phase: 8.5%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Approach (before landing): 8.5%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Initial climb (after takeoff): 6.1%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rejected takeoffs: 1.8%<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boeing Data (2015\u20132024):<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Takeoff + initial climb: 20% of fatal accidents &amp; fatalities, despite only 2% exposure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Climb phase: 10% of fatal accidents, 35% of fatalities<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Final approach + landing: 47% of accidents, 37% of fatalities<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cruise phase: Only 10% of fatal accidents, &lt;0.5% of fatalities, despite 57% exposure<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Takeoff and Landing Are the Riskiest Phases<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Low and Slow Factor<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aircraft fly at low altitude and speed during these phases, leaving little time for corrective action.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At cruising altitude, even with engine failure, planes can glide for minutes. On the ground or just after takeoff, pilots have seconds.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Increased Stress on Engines<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engines work hardest during takeoff, increasing the likelihood of failure.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Pilot Workload<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Landings are technically demanding, involving complex real-time decisions based on aircraft weight, wind, and speed.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Stall Risk<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wing stalls are more likely during takeoff due to excessive nose-up angles, leading to lift loss.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A wing stall occurs when an aircraft&#8217;s wing suddenly loses lift, which is the force that keeps it flying.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This happens when the angle of attack \u2014 the angle between the wing and the oncoming air \u2014 becomes too steep.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When a pilot pulls the aircraft&#8217;s nose up too sharply (like during a steep takeoff), the angle of attack increases.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If this angle becomes too large (usually more than 15\u201320 degrees), the airflow over the wing becomes turbulent and detaches.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a result, lift drops suddenly, and the plane can lose altitude or even fall.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Environmental Hazards<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bird strikes, turbulence, and adverse weather are more common at low altitudes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Flying Is Still the Safest Mode of Transport<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>ICAO Data<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Accidents per million departures dropped from 4.9 (2005) to 1.9 (2023).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Fatalities Declining<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Fatal accident numbers fluctuate annually but trend downward due to safer aircraft, better-trained pilots, and advanced simulators.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Improved Safety Protocols<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Modern aviation benefits from better materials, engineering, weather forecasting, and strict safety regulations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/plane-crashes-at-ahmedabad-airport-on-june-12-rescue-underway\/article69686196.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TH<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> |\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-sci-tech\/ahmedabad-airplane-crash-boeing-787-dreamliner-safety-10063045\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IE |<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/ahmedabad-crash-aircraft-most-likely-to-meet-accidents-takeoffs-landings-10062913\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IE<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An Air India Boeing 787 crashed near Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff. Explore possible causes, Boeing 787&#8217;s history, and aviation safety data.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":50138,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[814,60,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-50016","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-air-india-787-crash","9":"tag-mains-articles","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50016","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50016"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50016\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50016"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50016"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50016"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}