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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Air India Passenger Plane Crashes At Ahmedabad Airport. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired June 12, 2025 - 05:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[05:30:00]

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN ANCHOR: It's quite likely that, as you point out, that in fact, was the plane involved.

A little bit of the history of this aircraft. Any potential issues going back decades for a plane that many people know as a Dreamliner?

GEOFFREY THOMAS, AVIATION ANALYST: Look, it did have -- very early on it did have a battery issue and that was fixed. This is new lithium batteries. It was fixed and this was very early on in the first year of service. Since then it's basically had a flawless record and that has up to -- up until today no passenger has been lost on a Boeing 787.

So it's an outstanding airplane. There's over 1,000 of them flying. And it's becoming along with the Boeing 777 and the Airbus A350, the backbone of long-range international operations. And you wouldn't even think twice about getting onboard a 787 the same way you wouldn't think twice about getting onboard a 777 or an A350. They're, all of them, basically fantastic airplanes with great safety records, if not perfect safety records.

SANDOVAL: As we go through some of this information that's been released by authorities and the fact that it crashed shortly after takeoff, I wonder if you could elaborate a little bit more about what that tells you of this relatively large aircraft to lose control, lose altitude so quickly after taxiing and taking off.

THOMAS: Well, one would have to suspect -- and again, this is speculation on my part. One would have to suspect engine failure. Now, the aircraft, as it sank, was completely controlled. It wasn't as though it was out of control. It wasn't lurching from the left to the right or anything like that at all. It just simply sank down and impacted the ground.

Now, sadly, as it was taking off and going all the way to London Gatwick it was full of fuel and there was a massive fireball which viewers may see over the next hours. So it really just points to a multiple engine failure incident. Why, no idea, apart from the only thing that would do that from the nature point of view is a multiple bird strike -- a major bird strike.

SANDOVAL: And again, quickly, I just want to remind our viewers just joining us right now we are following developments out of Ahmedabad, India where a large jetliner operated by Air India, flight 171 headed to London, apparently crashed shortly after takeoff. As we wait to hear any new information on potential casualties, we are joined currently by one of our experts here -- aviation experts to try to dive a little bit deeper into what this could possibly mean.

Let's go back to some of the questions that -- Geoffrey, some of the questions that perhaps some of the other airlines are asking themselves. What are they doing right now as they wake up to news of a Boeing 787 involved in one of these -- in a crash? As you point out, likely the first fatal accident involving -- potential fatal accident after -- involving this aircraft. For airlines in the United States and around the world what are going to be some of the questions that they will be facing?

THOMAS: Well, they'd be talking immediately to their head of maintenance and their head of operations to get some feedback from them. They would be searching to see the videos that are out there already on various social media platforms trying to understand.

Looking at the configuration of the aircraft as it's going down. And it appeared from what I could see the configuration was acceptable. The flaps were set for takeoff. It appears that way. A closer examination may show that the flap setting wasn't correct for takeoff. That's a -- that's a possibility. Again, it may not be the case in this case.

But I think there will be some very heavy scrutiny of the video file -- the video image that's coming in to try and get a better understanding of what this is because this airplane performs flawlessly in service. If operated properly and maintained properly it's a magnificent airplane.

SANDOVAL: You also mentioned earlier the -- one of the factors here, which is that because it was shortly after takeoff this aircraft was likely fully loaded with fuel.

[05:35:00]

How does that have a -- the potential survivability of a disaster such as this, how does that change the situation on the ground?

THOMAS: Well, it -- it's not a good situation to have 150 tons of fuel. Now it all depends on how the aircraft broke up on impact. Now we haven't seen that yet because the plane descends beyond buildings and then there's an explosion. So we don't quite know whether the wings tore off and the fuselage continued. It's momentum, which would have protected the passengers. We don't know that until we actually see the fuselage itself and the wreckage.

So we're -- it's a little bit of speculation as to what the impact of that fuel would be on the survivability in this particular incident.

SANDOVAL: So many questions that we're asking ourselves right now and certainly, the airline industry around the world. Aviation analyst Geoffrey Thomas, we're so glad that you could join us to just provide a little bit of insight in these very early, early moments of what is likely going to be an absolutely just heartbreaking tragedy unfolding in Ahmedabad, India. We'll check back with you --

THOMAS: Yeah.

SANDOVAL: -- a little later.

Meanwhile, let's go ahead and go to our reporter now, Salma Abdelaziz, who has been following closely developments out of London where according to officials this plane was heading. Salma, what have you been told and what are you hearing about may have led up to this incident?

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I want to start with a statement, Polo, which we just received from the company that owns Air India announcing that they're opening an emergency center. So this is to support families that are seeking information.

They also released a statement on social media about the opening of this emergency center, saying, "Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event." So you can imagine already those families looking for answers are rushing to this emergency center.

We also have footage that just came in moments ago as well. I think we're playing that on our screen now where you can just see the aftermath of this horrifying accident. Rescue workers on the scene. I mean, the ground there just looks absolutely charred, Polo.

So these will be absolutely distressing scenes for those families rushing to that emergency center which has just been opened, again, by Tata Group, which is the parent company that owns Air India in an effort to support those families. Again, they released a statement on social media.

And just imagine these images again that you're looking at on the ground of these rescue workers, of the panicked residents in the area. Of the charred aftermath. I mean, I don't even see really where that plane is. But you can see just how wide an epicenter it has created. How wide -- how wide the damage is that you're looking at there.

But to go back again to that statement from the parent company that owns Air India, it says -- again, this is just from a few moments ago -- "...everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at that site" -- so the site that you are looking at right there -- "and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted."

Again, you mentioned the London connection here. Now this flight was enroute to London's Gatwick Airport. London's Gatwick Airport did confirm that the flight crashed on departure from Ahmedabad in western India. It was due to land at the airport here in London at 6:25 local time. So potentially, families who were going to be at that airport -- at Gatwick Airport today are instead watching these horrifying images from the ground perhaps trying to reach out to that emergency support center that's been set up by the airliner as well.

We've also heard from India's minister of civil aviation who said he's shocked and devastated to learn about this plane crash today. He said, "We are on highest alert." Again, this is the minister of civil aviation. "I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action."

So you're looking at that swift and coordinated action that is described by the civil aviation minister on the ground.

But you can imagine just how massive this is on the ground in terms of a recovery and search operation when you're looking at the charred earth. When you're looking at buildings nearby that may have been potentially damaged in this crash. This looks to be an area that's full of residents, full of civilians. Are there victims beyond those who were on the actual plane? I mean, so many questions. But again, we are just moments after getting this news.

[05:40:00]

Emergency services are on the ground, as you can see there trying to help. They've been organized by the highest levels of government in India. The parent company as well of Air India stepping in with what it says are emergency services, emergency support not just for those rescue crews on the ground but also setting up a service center for the families here in London.

Gatwick Airport confirming again that flight was supposed to land at about 6:30 local time today. Instead, of course, families seeing this horrifying news that the plane --

SANDOVAL: Yeah.

ABDELAZIZ: -- crashed upon departure.

So many questions right now but you can see the wheels beginning to turn and that response on the ground taking place.

SANDOVAL: Yeah, families in at least two cities now asking themselves exactly what happened. And this as we find out that the initial origin airport in Ahmedabad now announcing a temporary suspension of all outgoing flights as they continue to ask questions of their own. But you mentioned that flight was headed to London where you are.

Salma Abdelaziz, thank you so much for bringing us up to speed. Stick around. We're going to go right back to shortly.

First, let's squeeze in a break as we continue to follow breaking news out of India with Air India confirming flight 171 from India to London crashed just moments ago.

(COMMERCIAL)

[05:46:00] SANDOVAL: Back to -- back now to breaking news out of India where an Air India passenger plane has crashed shortly after takeoff at an airport in the western city of Ahmedabad. Images just into CNN there showing thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky as crews are on the ground. It is still not clear right now how many people were on board or if there were any survivors.

An emergency center has now been activated to support families seeking more information about Air India flight 171. And it had posted on social media that one of their planes was involved in what they described as an "incident." In a statement released shortly afterwards, Gatwick Airport officials confirmed that the flight had crashed shortly after departure as it was headed to London.

Right now, all flights out of Ahmedabad Airport are temporarily suspended as authorities work to learn more.

For more now we want to go straight to CNN's Richard Quest. Coincidentally, Richard, you're joining us from an airport at the moment. I recall just last week you had an opportunity to have a face- to-face -- a one-on-one conversation with Air India's CEO. Obviously, there was no telling this tragedy that was on the horizon.

What are you hearing now from your aviation sources about what happened today?

RICHARD QUEST, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, yeah. I'm actually transiting at the moment. I'm at Istanbul Airport transiting between Tashkent and London.

I'm looking at this particular incident. This is way up there in terms of the most serious, the most grave obviously because of the sheer loss of life that will have ensued.

A huge amount of smoke that you are seeing coming from the crash site. That is to be fully expected bearing in mind this was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. And I haven't got a chance to look at the age and the provenance of it, but it was a 787-9 Dreamliner. So it was fully fueled for the long trip from Ahmedabad all the way to London Gatwick, which is a 10-plus hour flight. And the aircraft will have been stuffed with fuel not only to get to Gatwick but also to go to its alternate as necessary.

And so that -- it's a moment of flight. The time at which this incident -- and you always call it an incident until you actually have more information. It is a term of art in a sense. You call it an incident.

So the timing of this incident is immediately after takeoff and plane is barely in the air. According to flight radar it's at about 700 feet give or take when it falls out of the air for whatever reason. And this is -- the two most critical -- the two most critical moments of flight are obviously takeoff and landing. And takeoff is relatively straightforward if you set the aircraft correctly and the speeds are correct, and then the plane goes into the air. And that's what their focus is going to be here. What happened that

clearly caused the aircraft to lose altitude at such a crucial point of flight when the engines would have been developing maximum thrust for takeoff.

So it's not surprising there's a huge plume of smoke. If anybody has survived or if there are survivors that would already become clear, but I would imagine that will be somewhat miraculous.

SANDOVAL: Richard, that critical detail that you mentioned of the -- of the short-lived duration of this flight minutes if not perhaps even seconds as we wait to learn more, what does that tell you about the possibilities that investigators will explore down the line? To be clear, we still don't -- we cannot even begin to imagine what may have led to this. But what are those questions that investigators will begin to ask themselves in the moments ahead?

QUEST: OK, let's put them on the table.

[05:50:50]

The plane gets to its flying speed. Pilots -- it's a -- it's a Boeing so they pull back on the yoke and the planes go into the air. Now, if you are at the right speed and you have flying speed, the plane will just continue to climb out unless there has been a mis-setting on the flaps or if there's been -- I mean --

But you see, the difference here -- the difference here in this scenario is we are talking about a very modern jetliner -- one of the most modern. So a lot of the "mistakes" or errors in terms of plane settings that might have happened in future -- or in previous years really don't apply to the same extent because the plane will tell you if it's not set correctly. The plane has enough internal systems to know if something is wrong.

And that, of course, then takes us into the whole area of what else might have caused it. Planes do not fall out of the sky. They take and they get into the air. This has two engines -- powerful, powerful engines. And I'm not familiar just at the moment with exactly which ones. I think they're Rolls-Royce on the Air India 78 Dreamliner fleet, but I'd need to check that.

But certainly, the aircraft is absolutely able to take off at the most critical moment of flight on one engine. So you're looking at what causes the plane to suddenly lose altitude at this vital moment when it's just lifting off of the ground or just a few miles from the airport.

And on the other side the black boxes -- they will be recovered relatively quickly and then all will become clear I expect quite quickly.

Air India -- let's talk about Air India. It's undergoing the most massive transformation under the new CEO Campbell Wilson who came from Singapore Airlines. And they are refurbishing the fleet. They're refurbishing -- its top to nose -- its nose to tail in a sense. And it's been going extremely successfully.

In terms of the history of the airline and its safety record that's not so good. It's not dreadful but it's certainly not up there with other leading airlines and not where it should be. They've had some high-profile incidents over the last 30 or 40 years which -- is it a safe airline, yes. But has there been issues, yes as well.

SANDOVAL: An incident of this nature, Richard -- and it goes with saying it certainly will -- what will it do, I should ask -- I should say, to this radical airline transformation plan that we heard from the CEO?

QUEST: You know, look, when I was a -- let me give you an example. When I was at the Air India training center only last week, they have in the training center something I've not seen before. They have an exhibition center of their previous crashes, including the one that ran off the runway, including the Air India 747 that blew up over the Atlantic. That was a bomb in that case.

But when I asked Campbell Wilson why -- you know, we were talking before the interview. I said why? He said because we want to remind everybody what happened. This is an important part of a -- of a safety culture to remind people what happened when it goes wrong.

So Air India is absolutely aware of the safety culture that is required. Certainly, all the new management which has come into the airline in the last few years with Campbell is well aware that this is very much a focus and a priority within them.

So that's even more puzzling that will factor in to this particular incident because it's not as if a safety culture wasn't on the agenda at Air India over the last year or two. It's been way up there in management terms. Way up there in terms of training and they've been focusing on it quite considerably, which is why this incident will be of great interest -- well, concern, obviously, that it should have happened in such a way.

SANDOVAL: Let's go back to the investigation and the evidence gathering that's going to be happening right now on the ground, Richard. The fact that this happened not over an ocean but instead in a very busy metropolitan area. You mentioned the black boxes. Hopefully, tracking those down very soon.

How does the location of this incident potentially offer an advantage to investigators that will seek to put this puzzle together?

QUEST: Yeah, I'm not being flippant when I say this, but this will be straightforward in a sense because there wasn't -- there wasn't altitude. Yes, there's a very vicious fire, but the boxes are designed to cope with that -- the boxes that were at the back of the aircraft. And there will be -- so you don't have the boxes underwater. You don't have them being hit by forces. You have a -- you have a very violent crash and that's going to --

[05:55:00] But the boxes should be retrieved once they've ensured that there are no survivors and that they've made sure that the actual debris and smoldering ruins of wreckage is safe. Then they will find the boxes.

And probably it'll be an interesting question. I'm not familiar whether India has the capability to read out the telemetry from the black boxes. I expect they do. But if they don't the boxes would be sent somewhere -- either Singapore or they would be sent to London, or even to the States where they would be read out.

Because downloading the data from the black boxes is an extremely challenging and detailed, and if there is any suggestion that the data is corrupted -- and I mean that in a technical sense, not in a manmade sense. But if it's been corrupted in any sense, you would -- you have to have very specialized equipment to retrieve that data. And there's not that many centers around the world that can do it.

I'm not familiar whether India does have that capability. Somebody no doubt will let me know in the hours ahead.

SANDOVAL: Richard, if casualties or fatalities are confirmed in the -- in the minutes or hours ahead here, what does that mean for the Boeing 787? We know going back decades it had previous issues that had been addressed. This is a -- as you point out, this is a large and extremely popular aircraft for airlines around the world.

What are some of those questions that the airline industry will be facing when it comes to this aircraft as we learn more about what may have led to this incident, in particular?

QUEST: OK. As we -- as you and I are talking now, it means nothing. It would be absolutely premature, irresponsible, that there is no reason that anybody would question the aircraft or the airliner itself. And as we get more information about it then obviously different factors come into play.

But this aircraft -- the 787 Dreamliner -- is -- I know we overuse this phrase "the workhorse" but this airline -- this aircraft was designed specifically for these sorts of routes known as long, skinny routes. Ahmedabad to Birmingham.

So here you have route that would not be able to sustain a 300-400- seat 777 and certainly not an A380 or anything like that. But you have these aircraft like the 350, like the 787 that carry 250 to 300 passengers at much lower -- 20 percent lower fuel burn and costs.

And this aircraft was designed for these routes that it's opened up. And, indeed, this particular route probably -- I'd need to look at the history of it, but my guess is that it was either opened up with the 78 or it has become profitable with the 78 because its fuel burn and its running costs and its composite fuselage make it that more attractive.

SANDOVAL: Yeah. Few places in this world that you can fly to without having to turn to a 787.

QUEST: Yes.

SANDOVAL: I've personally flown on this plane many times.

The -- and Richard, this -- as some brand new information is just into CNN now confirming that there were 242 passengers on board.

QUEST: Yeah.

SANDOVAL: But again, so far, we have not received any further information about any injuries, deaths, fatalities, and so on as we try to learn more about what's going on and what may have led to this incident as Air India describes it. Air India flight 171 with service from Ahmedabad to London.

And our own Richard Quest is joining us right now with his analysis and his take. A quick final thought about what we can expect in the hours ahead, Richard.

QUEST: Right. What happens now is a very well-rehearsed and practiced operation goes into effect. So first of all, at the scene of the crash itself -- you're hearing -- I can hear the sounds of the sirens at the airport. Emergency services will be on the scene to see if there are any survivors. They will then -- once they have determined that there aren't, they will then secure the scene and they will then allow for the retrieval of wreckage, which will be some days away.

You will have, in this case, the authorities will start to put together the investigation team. So here you have a flight that -- it's a U.S. airliner, i.e., a Boeing 787. So the NTSB absolutely will be a party to the investigation.

[06:00:00]

In fact, I would imagine even as we are speaking people are waking up in Seattle or Charlotte and are sort of planning to get on planes -- or from London and elsewhere -- and head down to India to be part of that investigation. You'll have the NTSB.

The plane was going to the United Kingdom; therefore you will have the AAIB, the Air Accident Investigation Board, which is part -- which is the U.S. equivalent of the NTSB. They will a party to the investigation.

SANDOVAL: Yeah. Right.

QUEST: Air India will be, of course.

SANDOVAL: Right.

QUEST: But the investigation will be led by the Indian authorities because this has happened on --

SANDOVAL: Right.

QUEST: -- Indian soil. SANDOVAL: CNN's Richard Quest with some reporting and insight on this air tragedy unfolding right now in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. Two hundred forty-two people aboard an airline involved in an incident.

Much more after this break. You're watching CNN's breaking news coverage.