Air India Boeing 787 Crash Highlights Safety Gaps, Industry Concerns

The recent Air India Boeing 787 crash near Ahmedabad, with 242 people aboard, has drawn attention to multiple potential causes, including pilot error such as using the wrong lever that kept flaps in landing mode, and possible technical malfunctions. Aviation experts have ruled out simultaneous dual engine failure as highly unlikely and noted that the engines were still running just before impact. The aircraft had a troubling history of technical issues and emergency landings, raising concerns about maintenance quality, especially given past whistle-blower claims about Boeing's safety culture and suspicious deaths of insiders. Meanwhile, investigations emphasize the critical importance of runway safety infrastructure, like extended obstacle-free Runway End Safety Areas, which provide pilots crucial space for emergency landings and allow faster emergency response, potentially reducing fatalities. Despite public perception fueled by social media of increasing air disasters in 2025, experts confirm that air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation, with pilot error rather than mechanical failure being the leading cause of accidents. However, concerns about declining aviation safety standards and near misses, as reported by experienced pilots, signal a need for renewed focus on aviation safety protocols and maintenance practices.