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Mumbai. A major aviation scare unfolded in Ahmedabad when an Air India-operated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed just two minutes after takeoff on its way to London. The wide-body aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew members, collided with a nearby building shortly after departing the runway. This is the first recorded crash of the Boeing 787 series since its commercial debut in 2011, sending shockwaves through the global aviation sector that has long hailed it as a technological marvel.

Boeing 787: Air India’s long-haul backbone

The Dreamliner that met with the accident is part of Air India’s premium long-haul fleet. The airline acquired its first Boeing 787 in 2012 from the South Carolina plant, deploying it on routes like Delhi–New York and Mumbai–London. Designed to replace the Boeing 767, the 787-8 is a mid-size, twin-engine, wide-body jet capable of flying up to 14,000 kilometers nonstop. It typically carries 200–250 passengers and is considered ideal for ultra-long-haul routes with high efficiency and passenger comfort.

Designed for the future, now under scrutiny

The aircraft’s design includes several cutting-edge features. Over 50% of the body is built using carbon-fiber composites, which reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency by 20-25%. It also boasts the largest passenger windows in commercial aviation, LED lighting that adapts to time zones, quieter engines, and a cabin pressurized to 6,000 feet, improving comfort and reducing fatigue. However, Thursday’s crash has triggered global concern, especially since the Dreamliner was seen as a near-faultless aircraft until now.

Troubled past, but never a crash — until now

The Dreamliner’s journey hasn’t been entirely turbulence-free. Conceived in 2003 as the 7E7 project, the aircraft suffered early production delays and was grounded in 2013 over overheating lithium-ion batteries. Structural concerns like fuselage joint gaps also surfaced during its early years. Despite these, the model recovered and was widely adopted. Until this incident, the 787’s safety record was considered among the best for wide-body jets.

Aviation sector awaits probe findings

While investigations are underway, experts suggest that aviation authorities worldwide will re-examine the Dreamliner’s structural and operational integrity. The model’s engines—either Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 or General Electric GEnx—are known for being quieter and cleaner, emitting 50% less CO2. Nonetheless, a crash of this scale involving Boeing’s prized aircraft is expected to bring short-term turbulence to its global fleet. Air India and DGCA have ordered a full safety audit of all Dreamliners in service.

What makes the Boeing 787 Dreamliner special?

Range: Up to 14,000 km (Delhi–New York nonstop)

Passenger capacity: 200–250

Fuel efficiency: Uses 20–25% less fuel than older wide-body aircraft

Noise reduction: 60% quieter engines

Structure: 50% carbon-fiber composite, lighter and more durable

Comfort: Larger windows, better humidity and pressure control, LED lighting

Engines: Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 or General Electric GEnx

Launched: Commercial operations began in 2011

Quote-

"The Dreamliner is one of the most technically advanced aircraft ever built. This incident is extremely rare and will be investigated thoroughly. However, it does not erase the aircraft’s overall safety reputation. The bigger concern is what caused a crash within minutes of takeoff—a phase statistically considered one of the most vulnerable in any flight."
- Capt. Rakesh Batra, Aviation Safety Analyst and Former AI Pilot