On June 12, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, an aircraft widely praised for its safety, became a danger to its passengers and those on the ground. Despite what began as a textbook takeoff and an experienced pilot with over 8,000 flight hours at the controls, the aircraft suddenly lost altitude, caught fire and crashed into residential buildings below.

Of the 242 people on board, only one person survived.

Now, investigators and aviation experts are looking into a concerning possibility: that the aircraft may have failed mechanically.

What We Know So Far

The 11-year-old aircraft was cleared for takeoff under extreme environmental conditions, with readings at 104°F and 89% humidity. Though the Dreamliner lifted for takeoff at an appropriate angle, it failed to generate enough momentum to climb to a safe altitude.

The Flaps are a Disputed Crucial Detail

Adding to the confusion is disagreement over the flap setting during takeoff. Video footage is unclear and some witnesses say the flaps were retracted, while others insist the video is inconclusive. Photos from the crash site suggest the flaps were deployed at impact.

Thrust Failure is a Potential Hidden Danger in the Dreamliner 787

With a standard takeoff and a pilot with over 20 years of experience at the helm, the aircraft’s failure to rise points strongly toward the plane experiencing insufficient thrust. Several factors could cause this to happen, including:

• Engine Malfunction: An engine stall, a faulty sensor, an air leak or fuel delivery issues could have created issues during takeoff. If sensors fed incorrect data or if the engine’s logic system failed, the engines may have underperformed during this crucial phase.
• Extreme Weather Conditions: High heat and humidity can reduce air density, compromising engine performance. Under such conditions, planes require more thrust to achieve the same lift.
• Incorrect Fuel or Fuel Delivery Issues: Though reports indicate the aircraft had a nearly full tank post-crash, fuel contamination or poor flow could have contributed to a delay or failure in engine response.
• Sensor Malfunction or Input Errors: Like most modern aircraft, the Dreamliner relies heavily on sensor data to calculate thrust and adjust the throttle. A single bad reading can have disastrous consequences.
• Foreign Object Damage: Though rare, bird strikes or runway debris can damage turbines during takeoff, reducing engine output or causing a compressor stall. The loud sound heard by the lone survivor raises this possibility, although dual-engine simultaneous failure is highly uncommon in passenger aircraft.

A Broader Pattern

Additionally, there is concern about what appears to be a broader pattern with these types of airplanes. American Airlines has recently experienced at least four emergency landings of 787s due to hydraulic and flap-related issues. Boeing, meanwhile, is under increasing scrutiny for production quality lapses, particularly with the Dreamliner series. In the past month alone, two newly delivered 787s were immediately grounded due to numerous maintenance issues.

A Need for Accountability

This incident may be the latest in a pattern of systemic failures in aircraft design, oversight, and production. If so, this failure needs to be addressed with urgency, transparency, and accountability.

Our legal team is currently investigating the Air India 787 incident and its potential links to design flaws, maintenance failures, and manufacturer negligence. If you are a family member of a victim, a survivor, or someone with information about Boeing or Air India maintenance practices, we encourage you to contact our firm.

Those responsible must be held accountable not only to honor those lost but to prevent the next avoidable disaster.