I would have thought that an incorrect flaps setting when take off power was applied would result in an audible warning?

21 minutes ago, dave2013 said:

but it could certainly be the case that the pilots simply forgot to set takeoff flaps.

The aircraft would complain loudly if incorrect t/o settings were used.

Far too early to even speculate.

Edited June 12, 2025Jun 12 by speedyTC

Before we speculate lets take a step back and think about all the lives lost.

It's very likely that there were also people killed in their homes. And those that were lucky enough to not be at home, will still have lost theirs.

What a tragedy.

23 minutes ago, dave2013 said:

but it could certainly be the case that the pilots simply forgot to set takeoff flaps.

The aircraft will warn you, very clearly if you do that. RAAS will scream FLAPS FLAPS! at you. Also the electronic checklist that you go through will only tick the item for flaps when they are set correctly.

So no, this is not something you can forget.

Edited June 12, 2025Jun 12 by Farlis

Looks to me like a dual-engine failure. The RAT can be seen deployed in the video of the aircraft going down. Not much the crew could have done in that phase of flight, unfortunately. Amazingly, at least one person was able to walk away with only minor injuries. 

I don't see any RAT deployment.

Unless I am mistaken the RAT does not deploy automatically and the crew would certainly not be faffing about with it while trying to keep the aircraft in the air.

I have just checked, and it seems that the RAT does indeed deploy automatically on the 787 if there is a dual engine failure.

Thanks, Chris. I stand corrected then.

Really can't imagine after hearing this tragedy. Ahmedabad police confirms that 204 are dead and 41 are injured. Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu has reached the crash site in Ahmedabad and is currently inspecting the situation on the ground. He is reviewing the ongoing rescue and relief operations, and coordinating with officials from DGCA, AAI, Air India, NDRF, and the local administration to ensure all necessary support is being provided.

Being a medical student in India, I was saddened to hear that 3 students persuing MBBS died in the crash.

Air India announced that it is organising two relief flights, one each from Delhi and Mumbai, to Ahmedabad for the next of kin of passengers and Air India staff.

Details of the flights:

IX1555 – Delhi-Ahmedabad
Time of departure: 2300 hrs on June 12

IX1556 – Ahmedabad-Delhi
Time of departure: 0110 hrs on June 13

AI1402 – Mumbai-Ahmedabad
Time of departure: 2300 hrs on June 12

AI1409 – Ahmedabad-Mumbai
Time of departure: 0115 hrs on June 13

Approximately 130 personnel from the Indian Army have been deployed to assist civil administration in the rescue efforts following a deadly plane crash in Ahmedabad. 

A Military Hospital has also been placed on standby, the army said in a statement.

"Indian Army teams comprising approximately 130 personnel have been deployed to assist civil administration in the ongoing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts following the crash of an Air India flight near Ahmedabad. The Indian Army’s response includes engineering teams with JCBs for debris clearance, medical teams comprising doctors and paramedics, Quick Action Teams (QATs), fire-fighting assets with fire extinguishers and water bowsers, and provost staff for site management. The Military Hospital has also been placed on standby," the statement read.

Lastly, I would just say may the souls of the lost lives rest in peace 🙏

A very large loss of life (so far 242)...and entirely possible that the total tally (including ground victims) is so far unknown. Condolences to all families and friends of the victims this morning.

It has been reported that a single (unverified) Mayday call was issued, but, without further communication with the flight crew prior to the crash. The next 72 hours should provide more credible information.

Very sad.

And Boeing's decline continues!

Appears to me that the right (starboard) engine fails at takeoff. We can observe a considerable yawing to the right, but I don't know what the wind direction and intensity was ...

God bless all the souls lost and their loved ones.  It will be interesting to see what comes to light as far as the cause for both engines to fail.  The news did report the plane had very heavy and frequent use over it's 11 year life.  

From this video published online:

https://x.com/Vikasmakwana111/status/1933162059556159903

you can see the 787 take off, and you can notice some things that can already give indications about what happened during the takeoff run:

assuming that the Flightradar24 website corrected the ADS-B indication that gave a reduced use of the runway made by the pilots for takeoff by saying that instead the pilots used all 11,000 feet available on the runway,

from this video, it emerges that the pilots used "all the runway" available by taking off practically at the end of the runway.

The plane remained low after takeoff and raised its nose with the result that a cloud of dust was raised caused by the jet of the engines and this indicates a low height from the ground.

One thing that seemed to me from this video, obviously I could be wrong, in addition to the low speed is that the plane once the wheels were off the ground, did not go in a straight line but to the left as if it had been hit by a strong side wind.

The plane with the nose raised and always with the landing gear extended should have risen no more than 100/150 meters from the ground then without changing this trim, it fell to the ground and between takeoff and the crash about 30 seconds passed.

A video of a passenger made on the previous flight from Delhi, on the 787 the air conditioning and entertainment systems were not working but, obviously

Not really sat down and watched anything about this ,and I’m certainly not going on pprune.

So having just watched the clips posted above,my initial thoughts,I can’t see the RAT but it’s not big so may not be visible in the video. As Christopher says the RAT will auto deploy with dual engine failure.

Of concern to me is that plume of brown smoke coming out to the left, is that from a bird going through the engine or is it dust?

The required flap setting would most likely on that runway would have been flap 5, however being full and in a hot climate a larger setting may have been required. It would be hard to spot flaps 5 on those grainy videos I’d have thought.

If there was a loss of required lift due to no flaps being out I’d expect the aircraft to have not got airborne or at best stayed lower to the ground, not gone up and then down. As mentioned there the 787 would be shouting at you on multiple occasions, on lining up you’d get a checklist incomplete caution and then a config warning on applying thrust,so very hard to ignore.

Also of interest is the gear is not retracted, but there is a mayday call, allegedly?

Just thinking out load and I know nothing but one scenario which would fit here would be a multiple bird strike taking out both engines with thrust being lost after rotation. The aircraft certainly looks like it’s stalled or very near to stalling, or there is insufficient thrust to sustain level flight.. There are certainly many large birds at Indian airports.

As I type this 787s are out flying , so that’s a good sign they’ve not been grounded, so something isolated to that flight rather than fleet wide is most likely the thoughts of the authorities thus far.

 

Edited June 12, 2025Jun 12 by jon b

I have the impression that the aircraft yaws to the right on takeoff, but apparently there was no significative xwind, so, if that's the case it could be caused by a loss of thrust from the right engine (?)