Over 1,175 Dreamliners have flown nearly 5 million flights, totaling more than 30 million hours in the air.

Today’s crash of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by Air India marks the first-ever crash of this model since it began commercial service. While the cause remains unknown, aviation experts are analyzing videos from the aircraft’s final moments to form a preliminary theory. Based on visual evidence, a likely scenario is that the engines ingested a flock of birds shortly after takeoff en route to London.

Flight AI171, headed to Gatwick Airport, took off at 1:30 PM local time and crashed shortly afterward. Initial reports indicate “many fatalities.”

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carried 242 people: 230 passengers, 10 crew members, and 2 pilots. According to an official in Ahmedabad, the aircraft crashed into a doctors’ hostel. Police, firefighters, and rescue teams reached the site within minutes. Rescue operations are ongoing.

A video shared online shows smoke rising from the crash site, with passengers from another flight witnessing the aftermath.

No Weather Issues Reported

Flight safety expert Marco Chan confirmed there were no adverse weather conditions at the time of takeoff. “No reports of clouds, wind, or storms—nothing that could have contributed to the crash,” he said.

Multiple Bird Strike Scenario

Former pilot Saurabh Bhatnagar suggested that the crash was likely caused by multiple bird strikes. “The preliminary indications suggest a case of multiple bird hits, which led to loss of power in both engines,” he stated.

He noted that the takeoff appeared smooth until the landing gear was retracted. “At that point, the plane began to lose altitude—this only happens if thrust is lost or if ascent is interrupted. The investigation will confirm the exact cause.” The pilot issued a “Mayday” distress call.

Aviation analyst Sanjay Lazar added: “This explains why the aircraft couldn’t maintain altitude. If there were multiple bird hits, the engines likely couldn’t sustain power for more than six to seven minutes, leading to the crash.” He emphasized that the plane was relatively new—only 11 years old—making mechanical failure unlikely.

First Dreamliner Crash in 14 Years of Operation

This incident marks the first crash of any Boeing 787 Dreamliner variant in 14 years of commercial service. The Dreamliner first flew in 2009 and entered commercial service in 2011. Just six weeks ago, Boeing celebrated transporting one billion passengers on Dreamliner aircraft.

Boeing reports that more than 1,175 Dreamliners worldwide have completed nearly 5 million flights, accumulating over 30 million flight hours.

Although there have been some technical issues in the past—mainly related to lithium-ion batteries in 2013—none had resulted in a crash or fatalities until now.

This crash is a major blow to Boeing, which is already facing scrutiny and challenges following fatal incidents involving its 737 series.