An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India’s western city, on Thursday. The flight was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport when it went down in a civilian area near the airport, according to local police.
Rescue teams are on the scene, but there are no immediate reports on casualties or survivors. The cause of the crash remains unknown. Boeing has acknowledged the incident, stating it is “aware of initial reports and working to gather more information.”
This tragic event marks the first fatal crash for the Dreamliner series, considered one of the most advanced passenger aircraft in service. The 787 faced previous challenges with battery issues that led to a temporary grounding, but until now, it maintained a strong safety record.
The crash poses a significant setback for Boeing’s efforts to restore confidence in its aircraft safety, particularly under the leadership of new CEO Kelly Orthberg. The company has been striving to ramp up production and move past the controversies surrounding its 737 MAX jets, which were grounded for years after two fatal crashes.
In response to the news, Boeing’s shares dropped 8% in premarket trading to $196.75. Suppliers and partners felt the impact as well, with Spirit AeroSystems and GE Aerospace—manufacturer of engines for the 787—seeing their shares fall around 4%.
GE Aerospace announced on social media platform X that it has activated its emergency response team to support the investigation but did not confirm whether the crashed aircraft was equipped with its engines.
Market analysts are observing the situation closely. Chris Beauchamp from IG Group commented, “It’s a knee-jerk reaction to the incident, and there’s revived fears of the problems that plagued Boeing aircraft and Boeing itself in recent years.”
As authorities begin their investigation, the aviation industry and travelers worldwide await updates on the cause of the crash and its implications for future air travel safety.
