Air India crash: What to know about the first fatal Boeing Dreamliner tragedy

Company Overview - Air India was operating a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which is a popular twin-aisle jet used for longer routes, with its first flight in December 2013 and handed over to Air India in January 2014 [2] - As of the incident, Air India had 34 Dreamliners in service and planned to order at least 20 more [3] Incident Details - The crash occurred seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, with 242 people on board, resulting in all but one person being killed [1] - Preliminary data indicated that the aircraft lost signal less than a minute after takeoff, reaching a maximum altitude of 625 feet [4] - The aircraft crashed into a residential area, and there were reports of additional fatalities on the ground [5] Investigation Insights - Investigators will examine the black boxes, maintenance records, pilots' maneuvers, and weather conditions to determine the cause of the crash [6][7] - The investigation will be led by the country where the incident occurred, with participation from Boeing and GE Aerospace [8] Manufacturing Concerns - There have been previous manufacturing and quality concerns regarding Dreamliners, but experts do not immediately link these issues to the recent crash [9][10] - Boeing faced allegations of taking shortcuts in production, but the company denied these claims [11] Impact on Boeing - The impact on Boeing will depend on the outcome of the crash investigation, although demand for new planes remains robust [14] - Wolfe Research noted that they do not foresee significant direct impacts on Boeing's financial performance, but the incident may affect momentum until clarity is achieved [14][15] - Boeing has 900 more Dreamliner orders, indicating continued demand despite the incident [15]