What’s going on at Boeing?

Crisis management expert and former Air India adviser, Paul Charles, gives an overview on all the problem faced by Boeing after the flight 171 crash.

The doomed aircraft, a 787 Dreamliner, was the latest from the manufacturer to be involved in a fatal air disaster.

This deadly incident is likely to bring fresh scrutiny to the under-fire company, which has seen its stocks plummet in recent months amid a slew of controversies and fatal accidents.

But despite growing concerns over the safety of Boeing aircraft, it has emerged the model of plane that crashed in the Indian city of Ahmedabad had an immaculate safety record before today.

Air India flight 171 careened back to earth in the densely populated Meghani area of the city, hitting doctors’ accommodation and a student canteen minutes after leaving the runway at about 1pm local time.

Pictures have emerged showing chunks of the plane's fuselage and tail protruding from a demolished building.

A pilot told LBC he believed it was a “tragic accident” and believed it was likely down to pilot error. An investigation is under way to establish the cause of the crash.

He said the 787 was a “phenomenal aeroplane” that was an “absolute dream to fly.”

“What we have to realise is errors, mistakes… can happen at any time and people are only human.”

“There is no single manufacturing process in the entire world which is flawless. Boeing will strive to do as much as they possibly can to iron out any errors.”

Experts have said that looking at footage of the plane’s final moments it appeared it may have been on the wrong flap setting which could have led to the crash.

The incident marks just the latest disaster for scandal-hit Boeing.

In 2018 and 2019, 346 people were killed when two of the company’s Max 8 jets crashed.

Whistleblower John Barnett, who accused the company of mismanagement, was also found dead weeks after breaking his silence in 2024.

In January 2024, a brand-new 737 Max 9 jet was forced into an emergency landing following a terrifying cabin panel blowout.

No-one was injured during the incident.

53 Britons were aboard the flight at the time of the crash, Air India confirmed today.

In a statement on Thursday morning, Gatwick Airport confirmed: "We can confirm that flight AI171 that crashed on departure from Ahmedabad Airport today was due to land at London Gatwick at 18:25."

Footage emerging on social media shows dark plumes of smoke rising into the air in a built-up area close to the airport.

Further videos appearing to show the aircraft flying low over the city rooftops before disappearing has also emerged, with a fireball emerging in the distance after the jet goes out of sight.

According to flight tracking app Flightradar24, signal from the aircraft was lost at 10:08 local time.

The plane was reportedly flying at a height of 625 feet, less than a minute after take off, at the time signal was lost.

In a statement, Air India said: "Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick was involved in an accident on 12 June 2025.

"At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest opportunity."

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