Air India Flight 171 tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, killing over 290 people, with preliminary investigations pointing to a possible mechanical failure and a mysterious sound before impact, leaving families devastated and raising urgent questions about aircraft safety.

Ahmedabad, India—A tragic disaster unfolded on June 12, 2025, when Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed mere moments after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 PM local time, claiming the lives of over 290 passengers and crew.

Eyewitnesses and airport personnel described a sudden, unexplainable sound just before the aircraft plummeted, a mysterious noise that has become central to the ongoing investigation and is raising serious questions about modern aviation safety.

Preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft, en route to Mumbai, lifted off normally but experienced what pilots described in emergency communications as “an unusual vibration and grinding noise” seconds before losing altitude.

Flight data recovered from the black boxes shows a rapid sequence of anomalies in engine performance and electrical systems, leading investigators to consider whether a mechanical failure triggered the catastrophe.

Captain Raghav Menon, one of the most experienced pilots in the airline, had reportedly radioed the control tower moments before the crash, alerting them to a sudden drop in thrust in the left engine.

“We were climbing normally, and then something sounded like metal tearing,” said a flight engineer overheard on recordings.

A particularly puzzling element in the investigation is the mysterious sound heard just prior to impact.

Aviation experts speculate it may have originated from a malfunctioning Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a small emergency device designed to deploy automatically to provide backup hydraulic and electrical power in the event of a major system failure.

While the RAT is intended to be a safety mechanism, investigators are examining whether it could have contributed to the catastrophic sequence, either by deploying too early or failing to function properly under extreme stress.

“It’s unusual for a RAT to play any role in a crash, but in this case, everything points to a system-level anomaly,” said Dr.

Leena Kapoor, an aerospace safety analyst.

Eyewitness accounts from the airport reported a sudden flash of light and a loud metallic thud as the plane descended uncontrollably.

“It was horrifying,” said Ahmed Patel, a ground operations supervisor.

“You could see the plane shaking, then that terrible sound, and then it just vanished from the sky.

” Emergency services were immediately dispatched, but the severity of the crash left little opportunity for survivors.

Hospitals across Ahmedabad received frantic calls as families sought information about passengers.

Investigators are examining multiple possible causes, including engine failure, electrical malfunctions, and structural fatigue.

Initial reports confirm that the aircraft had undergone all scheduled maintenance checks, but experts emphasize that complex aircraft systems like those on the 787 can sometimes fail unpredictably under stress.

The airline has pledged full cooperation with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and international aviation safety bodies to determine the precise cause.

Air India CEO Meera Sharma expressed grief and shock, stating, “This is a heartbreaking tragedy.

We are committed to uncovering every detail to ensure it never happens again.”

The black box recordings have become a key source of evidence, revealing moments of confusion in the cockpit as alarms sounded and systems began shutting down.

“The pilots were trying everything—manual overrides, system resets—but the aircraft continued to lose control,” said aviation consultant Jeff Ostroff, who has analyzed preliminary flight data.

“Those last seconds were a desperate fight against a cascade of failures.”

This disaster has drawn comparisons to past aviation incidents involving sudden mechanical failures shortly after takeoff, including the 2008 Air France Flight 447 crash.

However, the unusual sound reported by multiple witnesses adds a layer of mystery, prompting experts worldwide to scrutinize the design and function of emergency systems like the RAT in modern aircraft.

The DGCA has launched a full-scale investigation, assembling a team of engineers, flight safety analysts, and international aviation consultants.

Families of the victims have been briefed on the investigation’s progress, while public inquiries continue to pour in.

Meanwhile, aviation authorities are considering whether new guidelines are needed for early warning systems and emergency deployment protocols on large commercial aircraft.

As the world mourns the loss of over 290 lives, the mystery of the sound that preceded the crash of Air India Flight 171 serves as a chilling reminder of the fragility of even the most advanced aircraft and the relentless scrutiny required to safeguard air travel in an era of increasingly complex aviation technology.

The final investigation report, expected in the coming months, may reveal not only the cause of the crash but also critical lessons for global airline safety.