(Commonwealth_India) In the wake of an overwhelming air tragedy in India that claimed nearly 300 lives, the aviation trade has been compelled to meet the reminder that security can never be taken for granted. The devastating crash of Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, shook the entire aviation community. Among those responding was Airbus, Boeing’s primary rival, which issued a rare and pointedly human statement that set competition aside.
Speaking just ahead of the Paris Air Show, the industry’s largest annual gathering, Christian Scherer, the Chief Commercial Officer of Airbus, emphasized that safety must remain the primary focus of aviation. “Safety is in everything that we do,” he said, his voice cutting through the typical business-first narrative that often dominates such events. “The tragedy in India—we don’t see that in any way, shape, or form as a competitive input.” His message was unmistakably clear: accidents like these are not about market share or brand rivalry; they are about people, lives lost, and the unyielding duty of the industry to protect them.
Scherer added that the scale of the tragedy in India is a grim reminder that, although aviation has become statistically one of the safest modes of travel, even a single accident must be treated as unacceptable. “It is, if anything, a reminder to us all,” he said somberly.
The Air India flight, bound for London, was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Just moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport, the aircraft lost control and went down, killing all but one person on board. It stands as one of the deadliest aviation disasters in over a decade—and the first fatal incident involving the Boeing Dreamliner, which had, until now, maintained a solid safety record.
Boeing’s recently appointed CEO, Kelly Ortberg, replied swiftly. In the aftershock of the crash, he canceled his trip to the Paris Air Show and focused completely on the unfolding conditions. His message, focused on both devastated families and the wider public, resonated with the industry’s growing concerns that transparency and answerability must be at the forefront. “Safety is foundational to our industry and is at the core of everything that we do,” Ortberg said, expressing his condolences. He confirmed that Boeing’s technical experts are on standby, ready to assist with the ongoing investigation. A dedicated team from Boeing is prepared to fly to India as soon as needed.
Investigations have located the aircraft’s black box, a crucial step toward understanding what went wrong. The source of the crash remains unknown, leaving both controllers and the community distressed for answers. Given the Dreamliner’s reputation as one of the most innovative and reliable long-haul aircraft, the crash has deeply shaken a trade already grappling with a lack of trust.
For Boeing, this disaster comes at a time of sustained scrutiny, as it is still recovering from earlier tragedies, including the two disastrous crashes concerning its 737 MAX aircraft that led to a worldwide grounding of the fleet. More recently, a door-panel blowout on a MAX aircraft mid-flight added to growing concerns over the company’s manufacturing practices.
On the list of mechanical hindrances, the company has confronted serious internal scrutiny and allegations. One whistleblower, John Barnett, a former quality manager who spent over 30 years at Boeing, raised concerns about manufacturing flaws prior to his retirement in 2017. In an unfortunate turn of events, Barnett was found deceased from a gunshot wound last year, just days after providing evidence in a legal case against Boeing. The conditions of his death, while still under examination, have only expanded the public’s uneasiness.
