Passenger Noted “Unusual Things” Hours Before Fatal Air India Dreamliner Crash
AHMEDABAD, INDIA – In a tragic incident that has claimed the lives of 241 people, including passengers and ground casualties, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed moments after taking off from Ahmedabad on Thursday. Adding a new, unsettling dimension to the unfolding investigation, a passenger who flew on the same aircraft just two hours earlier has come forward, claiming to have noticed “unusual things” during his flight.
Akash Vatsa, an entrepreneur, boarded the ill-fated Boeing 787-8 (Flight AI171) for its Delhi-Ahmedabad leg, a journey completed just hours before the London-bound flight departed. In a widely shared social media post, Vatsa stated, “I was in the same damn flight 2 hours before it took off from AMD. I came in this from DEL-AMD. Noticed unusual things in the place. Made a video to tweet to @airindia. I would want to give more details. Please contact me.”
Speaking to news agency ANI, Vatsa elaborated on his observations. While the flight from Delhi to Ahmedabad initially seemed routine, he noted an anomaly once the aircraft reached cruising altitude. “At cruising altitude, I noticed that the rear part of the flaps was moving up and down repeatedly,” Vatsa explained. He clarified that he is not an aviation expert but felt something was amiss with the plane’s flaps. He also mentioned that the air conditioning system was not working properly while the aircraft was on the ground before takeoff.
The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed into a medical college complex in Ahmedabad less than a minute after takeoff, bursting into a ball of fire. The disaster is one of India’s worst aviation accidents in recent times. The single survivor from the flight, British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, is currently recovering in hospital.
Authorities, including India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), have launched a full-scale investigation into the crash, with assistance from US and UK teams. The flight data recorder, or “black box,” was recovered from the wreckage on Friday, a crucial step that is expected to shed light on the cause of the tragedy.
While it remains unclear whether Vatsa’s observations have any direct connection to the crash, his testimony has added a layer of urgency to the ongoing probe. Aviation experts have already pointed to unusual flight characteristics observed in videos of the final moments of Flight AI171, including the aircraft’s landing gear appearing to remain deployed and flaps seemingly not set correctly for takeoff. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has since ordered Air India to conduct additional safety checks on its entire Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleet as a “preventative measure.”
The investigation will now meticulously examine all aspects, including aircraft maintenance records, pilot actions, weather conditions, and any potential mechanical failures, to determine the definitive cause of this devastating accident. Mr. Vatsa’s account, along with the recovered flight data, will undoubtedly be a key focus for investigators seeking answers for the victims and their families.
