A tragic plane crash in India has cast a dark shadow over the aviation world.
What happened: An Air India flight carrying 242 people flying from Ahmedabad to London crashed shortly after takeoff, careening into a hostel for medical students. It’s unclear as of writing how many people died, though it’s already the deadliest aviation disaster in a decade.
- At least one passenger has survived, and claimed to have heard a loud noise before the plane crashed.
Why it matters: The plane model was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which until now hadn’t crashed since taking to the skies in 2011. One of the world’s most popular long-haul planes — the "best-selling passenger widebody of all time,” per Boeing — now has a black mark.
- Though this is the first crash, safety concerns were raised last year after an incident where the plane’s autopilot was disconnected by the captain’s seat suddenly moving.
- What’s more, a whistleblower reported to the U.S. federal aviation regulator last year that Boeing had cut corners in building the Dreamliner, resulting in defects.
Big picture: This year has already seen a spate of high-profile aviation accidents, like the mid-air collision near D.C. and the plane on its back in Toronto. These incidents have exacerbated fears of flying, which the CEO of Delta Air Lines cited this year as one reason for falling ticket sales. The Air India crash could cause even more consumer concern.—QH