Ahmedabad Boeing 787 Crash: Deep-Dive into Engine Overhaul and Maintenance Timeline

 

Ahmedabad Boeing 787 Crash: Deep-Dive into Engine Overhaul and Maintenance Timeline

June 18, 2025 – Ahmedabad, India

A devastating crash of Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner registered VT-ANB, occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. Of the 242 people onboard, 241 perished, along with at least 29 individuals on the ground. Remarkably, one passenger, British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, survived with minor injuries .

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Engine Overhaul at Three Months Before Crash

Preliminary investigation reveals that the right-hand GE GEnx engine on VT‑ANB underwent a full overhaul just three months before the crash. While overhauls are routine maintenance, the timing has raised critical questions about quality control and any undetected defects .

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Major Airframe Inspection Scheduled for December

Investigators have confirmed that—having last undergone its scheduled heavy maintenance (C‑check) in, estimated, June 2024—the aircraft was due for its next major inspection in December 2025. That event would have involved a comprehensive evaluation of structural systems, including landing gear, flight controls, and engine health .

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Crash Sequence & Investigation Focus

Flight Path and Control Loss

Flight data indicates the aircraft reached approximately 625 ft before descending rapidly—losing contact just 50 seconds into the flight. Audio records include a distress (“Mayday”) call reporting engine-thrust loss .

Engine Failure or Dual Engine Event?

Early findings, including potential deployment of the ram-air turbine (RAT)—activated when both engines or hydraulic systems fail—suggest a catastrophic dual malfunction .

Other Mechanical and Procedural Factors

Investigative teams are also analyzing the status of flaps, landing gear, and takeoff configuration. No external causes like bird strikes have been ruled in; the focus remains on mechanical failures or maintenance deficiencies .

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Implications for Air India and Boeing Dreamliners

Fleet Inspection Intensified

The DGCA has mandated immediate technical inspections across all 33 Air India 787 Dreamliners. These include takeoff performance audits and thorough engine and control system checks .

Air India Response

Air India has proactively canceled several international flights and grounded select aircraft pending inspections to restore public trust .

Boeing’s Safety Record Scrutiny

This incident marks the first fatal hull-loss of the Dreamliner since its debut in 2011. Boeing is collaborating closely with U.S. authorities, including the NTSB and FAA, as well as GE Aerospace, in the investigation .

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Ongoing Investigation & Expected Timeline

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), alongside NTSB, UK’s AAIB, and DGCA, continues to analyze black box data and wreckage mapping under challenging monsoon conditions . Though the cockpit voice recorder suffered in the fire, both recorders have been recovered and sent to New Delhi for detailed analysis . A preliminary report is anticipated within approximately three months .

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Context – Tragic Event and Historical Significance

This is the deadliest aviation disaster in recent memory. With over 270 lives lost, it surpasses any Boeing 787 accident to date and ranks among India’s worst crashes in recent decades . The presence of high-profile passengers—including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani—has intensified national and international scrutiny .

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Next Steps & Accountability

Investigators are expected to determine whether the right engine’s recent overhaul concealed critical defects, if maintenance documentation was thorough, or if a systemic lapse occurred. The December C‑check timeline adds urgency to identifying faults before subsequent inspections.

Both Air India and Boeing face mounting pressure. The December overhaul schedule will feat

ure prominently in safety protocol reviews and regulatory reforms.

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