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The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary report into last month’s crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, emphasizing that the investigation’s sole objective is to prevent future accidents and not to apportion blame or liability. 


The report, prepared under Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and India’s Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, notes that the findings are based on early evidence and remain subject to change.


On June 12, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed shortly after takeoff, killing more than 270 people, including international passengers and college students. Only one person survived the crash, which has become one of the deadliest aviation accidents in India in recent years.


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According to the preliminary findings, the aircraft suffered a catastrophic loss of power seconds after becoming airborne. Both engines reportedly shut down within 32 seconds of takeoff after the engine fuel control switches were momentarily turned off, cutting the fuel supply and leading to an unrecoverable stall. The AAIB noted that the investigation is focused on gathering and analyzing data to understand why the switches were turned off and how such a sequence could occur during a critical phase of flight.


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The probe is being conducted with participation from international experts, including representatives from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Boeing, General Electric, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Investigators from the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Canada are also involved, as citizens from these countries were among the victims.


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Air India has said it is fully cooperating with the AAIB and regulators. “We acknowledge receipt of the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) today, 12 July 2025,” the airline said in a statement on X, adding that it is “working closely with stakeholders, including regulators,” as the investigation progresses. “Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time.”


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The AAIB cautioned that its preliminary findings should only be used to support safety improvements, warning that using the report to assign blame could lead to “erroneous interpretations.”


(Image Source: Moneycontrol)

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/air-india-pledges-cooperation-as-probe-report-of-the-deadly-ahmedabad-crash-emerges-74167.htm">Air India pledges cooperation as probe report of the deadly Ahmedabad crash emerges</a>

Inside the AI171 Crash: Images from the preliminary report reveal the moments before Air India Ahmedabad crash

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the probe into the deadly Air India crash in Ahmedabad, submitted its preliminary findings to the Ministry of Civil Aviation this week, as per an ANI report citing sources. The AAIB report, based on early analysis, follows the recovery of the aircraft’s black boxes from the densely populated crash site last month. One recorder was located on a rooftop on June 13, while the second was pulled from the debris three days later.

In the current investigation, the AAIB used a matching “golden chassis” — an identical black box unit — to confirm the integrity of the recovered data, a standard industry practice. The Crash Protection Module from the front recorder was safely extracted, and the memory module was accessed on June 25 at the AAIB’s facility, officials said as per the report. 

The investigation team includes technical specialists from the Indian Air Force and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, alongside representatives from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, which is participating because the aircraft was designed and manufactured in the United States. Experts from Boeing and GE, whose systems were onboard the aircraft, are also in India to support the inquiry.

Involving specialists in aviation medicine and air traffic control, the investigation seeks to piece together the moments leading up to the crash, which has become one of India’s and the world's deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/air-india-pays-compensation-to-nearly-two-thirds-of-june-12-crash-victims-families-73170.htm">Read more: Air India pays compensation to nearly two-thirds of June 12 crash victims’ families</a>

Air India crash: AAIB submits early report to on Air India Ahmedabad crash investigation - Report

On July 2, a Tokyo-bound Boeing 737-800 plunged 26,000 feet in under ten minutes before making an emergency landing in Osaka. For many, this wasn’t a surprise — it was the latest incident in a disturbing pattern. In India alone, the last three air crashes have all involved Boeing aircraft. One of the deadliest crashes in aviation history took place in June 2025 in Ahmedabad. Add to that a string of technical failures, mounting whistleblower testimonies, and scathing global inquiries, and the picture is clear: Boeing, once a symbol of American engineering supremacy, is now a brand caught in a nosedive of its own making.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/air-india-ahmedabad-crash-probe-preliminary-report-boeing-issues-statement-74174.htm">Read more: Air India - Ahmedabad crash probe preliminary report: Boeing issues statement</a>

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/inside-the-ai171-crash-images-from-the-preliminary-report-reveal-the-moments-before-air-india-ahmedabad-crash-74173.htm">Read more: Inside the AI171 Crash: Images from the preliminary report reveal the moments before Air India Ahmedabad crash</a>

Passengers, for the first time in India, are checking the aircraft manufacturer before booking their flight. Airline trust is no longer just about in-flight meals or on-time arrivals— it’s about whether the plane itself can be trusted to stay in the air. 

In a country where domestic air travel demand is surging, and fleet expansions are central to the nation’s growth narrative, Boeing’s credibility crisis is fast becoming India’s aviation credibility crisis.

A Global Giant in Crisis

Boeing's troubles began long before the recent incidents. The 2018 and 2019 crashes involving the 737 MAX killed 346 people and triggered global outrage. What followed was a two-year grounding of the MAX fleet and damning revelations: internal emails showed employees mocking regulators and cutting safety corners to rush aircraft deliveries. The second crash also led to the ousting of Boeing's CEO at that time. Since then, the company’s issues have only compounded. 


Read more: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/the-challenges-before-air-india-writes-lloyd-mathias-71332.htm">Rebuilding Trust: Air India's dual challenge of safety and reliability</a>


In 2024, a whistleblower and former quality inspector at Boeing testified before the U.S. Senate, alleging critical safety lapses in the manufacturing of the 787 Dreamliner and 777 models. Whistleblower Sam Salehpour, a Boeing engineer, had alleged that Boeing took shortcuts when manufacturing its 777 and 787 Dreamliner jets, and that the risks could become catastrophic as the airplanes age. Several engineers have reportedly also claimed that production speed was prioritized over safety. Congress, under bipartisan pressure, launched deep investigations. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stepped up audits, and class action lawsuits are piling up. It is to be noted that for nearly two years starting in 2021, the FAA and Boeing halted deliveries of the new Dreamliners while it looked into the gaps. Boeing said it made changes in its manufacturing process, and deliveries ultimately resumed.

Financially, Boeing is on shaky ground. It hasn't posted a full-year profit since 2018. Mounting losses—exacerbated by aircraft delivery delays, legal payouts, and cancelled orders—are threatening its long-term viability. CEO churn, labor unrest, and plant-level quality issues in factories have only worsened the perception. After banking record-high profits in the 2010s, Boeing, as per Reuters, has bled more than $30 billion since 2019 after two fatal crashes of its best-selling 737 MAX jet triggered production quality and safety concerns. The pandemic further squeezed the company. Revenue for the quarter through December'24 fell 31% to $15.24 billion, missing analysts' expectation of $16.21 billion. Cash burn was $14.3 billion in 2024, compared with a cash flow of $4.43 billion in 2023.

Read more:<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/digital/boeings-2024-loss-highlights-ongoing-struggles-amid-production-and-safety-issues-54877.htm"> Boeing’s $11.83 billion loss in 2024 highlights ongoing struggles amid production and safety issues</a>



And now, with safety-related headlines re-emerging almost weekly, Boeing’s brand is bruised globally but perhaps nowhere more worryingly than in high-growth markets like India.


Growth Engine Caught in the Crossfire

India, with an estimated size at $13.89 billion ,is the world’s third-largest aviation market, and its domestic air travel expected to touch 350 million annual passengers by 2030. Massive fleet expansion plans are underway. Air India alone has placed orders for 220 Boeing jets. Akasa Air has committed to 226 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. SpiceJet, Air India Express, and others remain Boeing customers.

But that bet is increasingly looking risky.

"Passengers today are more informed and cautious. A 2024 IATA Global Passenger Survey shows 72% of flyers now consider aircraft type and safety history before booking. That’s up from 54% just three years ago," says Dr. Vandana Singh, Chairperson, Aviation Cargo, Federation of Aviation Industry in India.

Harish Bijoor, Business and Brand-strategy specialist and Founder, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc, calls it “a severe brand turbulence” for Boeing. “Trust, once lost, is difficult to regain. Boeing must lead with transparency —publish a white paper, invite independent audits, and show scientific rigor in addressing failures,” he said.

It’s no longer just Boeing under fire. Indian airlines flying its aircraft are now caught in a reputational crosswind.

Lloyd Mathias, brand strategist and angel investor, warns: “Passengers don’t fly Boeing or Airbus. They fly Vistara, Indigo, Air India. If there’s a problem with the aircraft, the airline owns that in the public mind. Brands are indirectly inheriting Boeing’s trust deficit.”


Read more: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/air-indias-tragic-setback-tata-led-airline-brand-under-safety-and-service-scanner-70228.htm">Air India’s Tragic Setback: Tata-led airline brand under scanner</a>



To pre-empt fallout, Air India has started culling some flights and reviewing its fleet strategy. But this is a stopgap solution. Leasing capacity from other airlines is neither scalable nor economical. 

The duopoly of Boeing and Airbus leaves little room for alternatives, say experts, and Airbus itself is facing massive backlogs, with waitlists extending into the 2030s.

"Boeing and Airbus maintain a near-duopoly in the global aviation market, together accounting for close to 80% of total market share. Of the two, Boeing has traditionally held a marginal edge, supported by a ten-year order backlog valued at approximately US$500 billion. However, in recent years, Boeing has been steadily losing ground to Airbus, owing to a combination of setbacks," highlights Samit Sinha, Partner, Alchemist Brand Consulting. 


A Bigger Price Than Profits

Beyond airline economics and brand optics, Boeing’s credibility collapse has real-world implications. If passengers avoid Boeing-operated flights, airline revenues will fall. Tourism could dip. Insurance premiums are rising. Foreign investors may hesitate to back Indian aviation stories tied too closely to Boeing. Regulators may step in. The Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA will be under pressure to issue clearer advisories or even consider independent safety audits.

Ravi Gosain, President of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), says, “This isn’t just a Boeing story anymore. It’s about trust in the skies. If people don’t feel safe flying, tourism stalls, and business travel takes a hit. The ripple effect is massive.”


Experts agree: this is Boeing’s moment of reckoning.

"The public doesn’t just want reassurances—they want to see change," says Dr. Singh. "That means more than CEO statements or PR campaigns. It means factory-level quality overhauls, independent safety reviews, whistleblower protection, and full collaboration with regulators."

Mathias adds, “Boeing has serious internal problems: labor unrest, regulatory scrutiny, class action suits. If it can’t show a clean turnaround on quality and transparency, its market position may be damaged permanently.”

The facts speak for themselves: if Boeing continues to be disproportionately linked to safety incidents, it could prove disastrous—not just for the company, but also for the reputation of airlines that operate its aircraft, point out Sinha. Boeing’s top priority must be to get its house in order, addressing internal issues with urgency and transparency.

Equally important is the need for strategic media management. In recent months, whistleblowers have amplified their concerns through global media, casting a long shadow over Boeing’s credibility. The widely viewed Netflix documentary “Downfall: The Case Against Boeing” further intensified negative public sentiment, dealing another blow to the brand.

"Rebuilding trust—with both airlines and the flying public—will require immediate, visible, and sustained action. Boeing must not only resolve its quality control failures but also launch a credible, proactive PR campaign to demonstrate accountability, transparency, and commitment to safety," he adds.

Not all is lost. Boeing still holds deep technical expertise, a strong delivery pipeline, and immense global clout. The U.S. government, aware of its economic and strategic importance, is unlikely to let it collapse. But market forces have shifted. Flyers today are vocal, data-driven, and empowered.

"Boeing's situation is a cautionary tale about the cost of compromised ethics and safety," says Gosain. "Until Boeing regains the world’s trust, this dark cloud won’t lift—not just over the company, but the entire aviation ecosystem that relies on it.”

As India flies into its most ambitious decade of aviation growth, the skies may be busier—but if Boeing doesn’t rebuild trust, they may also be clouded with doubt.

Passengers now check the plane, not just the price: Boeing’s safety and trust crisis hits India

Tata Sons, the $400-billion Tata Group’s holding company, has sought board approvals to establish a ₹500-crore trust aimed at providing financial assistance to families affected by the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad. Chairman N Chandrasekaran briefed the board about the proposed trust at an interim meeting on Thursday, as per reports.

The fund will support the families of all 271 victims—both Indian and foreign nationals—including several British passengers. Initially, Tata considered separate trusts for Indian and foreign families, but has now opted for a unified structure.

The trust’s scope includes compensation payouts, medical care, and rebuilding the damaged medical school struck by the plane’s fuselage. The remaining corpus will be allocated for long-term support, such as children’s education, healthcare, and daily living expenses.

The initiative is being spearheaded by PB Balaji, group CFO of Tata Motors, who is developing a governance-compliant framework sensitive to the legal and cultural complexities surrounding the tragedy. The trust will also feature members from outside the Tata Group to ensure transparency and robust governance.

Tata Trusts is expected to contribute to the fund. The meeting was attended by Tata Trust nominees Noel Tata, Venu Srinivasan, and Vijay Singh. The move draws parallels with Tata’s 2008 post-26/11 initiative to support employees and families impacted by the Mumbai terror attacks.

Read More:<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/air-india-ceos-pay-rises-to-rs-27-75-crore-days-before-tragic-crash-in-ahmedabad-71612.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Air India CEO's pay rises to Rs 27.75 crore days before tragic crash in Ahmedabad</a>

N Chandrasekaran briefs Tata Sons Board on Rs 500 cr Air India crash relief fund

AIR INDIA