The fatal crash of the 787 Dreamliner, run by Air Medabad from Ahmedabad in northwestern India to Gatwick Airport in London, has fuelled again the scrutiny of both Boeing and the airline as both companies are about to emerge from a long-standing crisis and poor reputation.
The nearly 12-year-old Dreamliner crashed in a densely populated section of the city soon after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 people on board on Thursday. The total death toll is expected to rise as planes fell at medical college hostels and rescue operations are still underway.
This crash raises new concerns about Boeing. Boeing continues to face safety issues that undermine the trust of the aircraft public. These challenges come as the Seattle-based aerospace giant tackles economic pressure from tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump and the growing regulatory attention following recent safety issues.
The reason behind the crash is not yet clear.
But it was yet another fatal accident involving a Boeing aircraft, adding to a series of public relations crises that have made many travelers wary of flying planes.
“Boeing has now become infamous for flyers, regardless of the model of the plane. Even the word “Boeing” causes many people,” Adnan Basil, an independent global communications and corporate affairs consultant specializing in crisis communication, told Al Jazeera.
The company's safety reputation began to be solved in October 2018 when it crashed when it operated a maximum flight of the 737 due to a malfunction of the Maneuverability Characteristics Enhancement System (MCAS), a program designed to prevent food stalls. The crash killed all 189 people on board.
Just a few months later, in March 2019, a flight from an Ethiopian airline using the same aircraft model crashed for the same reason, with all 157 people on board.
The confusion resurfaced in January 2024. This resurfaced when door panels removed the central flight on the Alaska Airlines route between Ontario, California and Portland, Oregon.
But up until now, the 787 Dreamliner aircraft had maintained a relatively strong safety record.
“This was the first fatal crash of the 787. So, despite all the early issues and all the production issues Boeing had on the plane, this had a perfect safety record up to this point,” aviation expert Scott Hamilton told Al Jazeera.
First launched in 2011, Boeing sold over 2,500 models globally. Air India purchased 47 of them, and to date Boeing has delivered 1,189 Dreamliners.
This model faces years of safety-related scrutiny. In 2024, former Boeing quality manager John Burnett was found to have died under suspicious circumstances after concerns over a lengthy statement about 787. Burnett claimed that Boeing cut corners to meet production deadlines, including the installation of inadequate parts. He also claimed that the tests revealed a 25% failure rate for the aircraft's emergency oxygen system.
In 2019, The New York Times released an exposing that revealed that Boeing had put pressure on workers to not report safety violations, citing internal emails, documents and employee interviews.
More recently, another whistleblower, Sam Salepool, told lawmakers he was threatened with raising safety concerns about Boeing aircraft.
Today's crash is the latest fatal incident under the guidance of Boeing CEO Kelly Autoberg. Ortberg had committed to regaining the company's safety reputation.
Previously, the last fatal Boeing incident occurred in December. In December, Jeju Air flight crashed after a bird attack, killing 179 of the 181 people on board.
Earlier this month, the US Department of Justice reached a settlement with Boeing, which allowed the company to avoid prosecution for a previous crash. The transaction required Boeing to pay $1.1 billion, including investments to improve safety standards and compensation for victims' families.
On Wall Street, Boeing's stocks fell nearly 5% since the previous day's market approached.
At this point, experts believe that ultimately Boeing executives will pay attention to their words due to the looming legal challenges they may face if the investigation turns out to be a obstacle to the plane manufacturer.
“We can almost guarantee that there is a kind of lawsuit. For now, they may have tri-in internal and external communication plans with their legal teams, because what they say in public now can be used as evidence.
In response to today's crash, Boeing said, “We are ready to contact Air India regarding Flight 171 and support them. Our thoughts are that passengers, crew, first responders, and all are affected.” Boeing did not respond to Al Jazeera's request for comment.
Retreat of Air India Turnaround
For Air India, which has undergone major reinvention over the past few years, today's crash is a major setback in rebranding and modernising efforts.
The airline was founded in 1932 and was nationalized in 1953. After years of economic struggles and increased debt, Tata Group acquired the airline in 2022 for $2.2 billion.
As India's only long-haul international airline to Europe and North America, Air India holds strong global travel from across the country. In 2023, Carrier ordered 220 Boeing aircraft, including 20 Dreamliners, 10 777x jets, and 190 737 Max.
For now, Air India is focusing on its response to crashes.
“At this point, our main focus is to support all affected people and their families. We are doing everything in our power to support the emergency response team at the site and provide all the support and care needed to those affected,” said N Chandrasekaran, chairman of the Tata Group, in a statement provided to Al Jazyera.
“I am expressing my deep sadness about this incident. This is a difficult day for all of us at Air India. Our efforts are fully focused on the needs of our passengers, crew, their families and loved ones,” Airline CEO Craig Wilson said in a video statement.
Airlines have experienced several fatal accidents in recent years. In 2020, Air India Express flights slid down the runway in Kozikord, India, killing 20 people. A similar accident in Mangalore, involving the 737-800, claimed 156 lives.
Despite the impact of today's crash, flight is one of the safest modes of travel. According to a 2024 survey by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, there is one risk of death in a commercial airline accident for every 13.7 million passengers. This continues to be the safest decade in aviation history.
