Air India 787-8 accident - What we know so far

Investing.com -- A Boeing (NYSE: BA) 787-8 operated by Air India crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday, raising questions about engine performance as investigators begin examining the cause of the fatal accident.

The aircraft, powered by GE Aerospace’s GEnx-1B engines, went down just beyond the airport perimeter following a mayday call, according to Directorate General of Civil Aviation, India’s aviation body.

There were no reports of adverse weather, and both pilots, identified as Captain Sumit Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar, were experienced.

Flight tracking data showed a sluggish climb followed by a sudden descent, consistent with a potential engine failure.

Aviation experts cited in local media have raised the possibility of a bird strike affecting one or both engines.

GE is reportedly sending a technical team to support the investigation, CNBC India reported.

The nearly 14-year-old aircraft entered service in 2011 and had no known history of serious incidents.

While Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and the GEnx engine have generally maintained strong safety records, the crash has drawn scrutiny to both amid rising focus on aviation safety in the industry.

Structural concerns related to fuselage joins on some 787s and unrelated component issues reported in the past are not believed to be linked to this crash, according to Bernstein analysts.

The aircraft’s maintenance history has not yet been disclosed.

Authorities have begun an official investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

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