Are Planes Really Crashing More Often? Unpacking the Air India 171 Tragedy and the State of Aviation Safety (2025)

 Introduction

If you’ve felt like airplane disasters are suddenly all over the news, you’re not alone. The horrific crash of Air India Flight 171 has shocked travelers and triggered tough questions about flight safety. But does this mean flying is genuinely getting riskier, or is there more happening beneath the headlines? Let’s dive into what happened with Flight 171, why it matters, and what it reveals about today’s aviation safety landscape.

The Numbers: Is Flying Actually More Dangerous Now?

Spoiler alert: Commercial aviation is still extraordinarily safe.

Let’s look at the stats:

• 2023: One of the safest years, only one fatal commercial accident globally.

• 2024: 46 accidents out of over 40 million flights—an accident rate so small, flying remains far safer than driving.

• 2025: Some fatal crashes—most notably Air India 171—have appeared, but the overall risk per flight stays exceptionally low.

Perception isn’t always reality: Major accidents, though rare, get massive coverage, amplifying our sense of danger. But looking at decades of data, modern commercial aviation has never been safer.

The Air India Flight 171 Crash: What Really Happened?

On June 12, 2025, tragedy struck just after takeoff from Ahmedabad. Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed less than a minute into its journey, killing 260 people, including 19 on the ground. Miraculously, one passenger survived.

The Timeline (From Official Reports & Black Box Data):

• Takeoff is routine.

• Seconds after liftoff, both engine fuel cutoff switches move from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within a second—causing a total loss of power.

• The pilots scramble to recover, managing to restore both switches, but it’s too late: less than 40 seconds after takeoff, the plane crashes.

• The cockpit voice recorder reveals confusion:
“Why did you cutoff?”
“I didn’t do so.”

The Mystery: Mechanical Failure…or Human Error?

• Deliberate Action?
Some media and experts allege intentional pilot action, since both fuel switches moving together is nearly impossible to do by accident.

• System Malfunction?
FAA bulletins dating back to 2018 warned of a lock malfunction on fuel cutoff switches in this exact Boeing model, making accidental shutoff possible—but checks were optional and hadn’t been done on this plane.

The Aftermath

• India’s aviation regulator orders inspections of all similar aircraft.

• Pilot groups challenge any rush to blame pilots, emphasizing the need for a complete, fact-driven investigation.

• The aviation world is watching closely for the final report.

The Broader Picture: Why Do Air Accidents Happen Now?

1. Human Error

• Still the leading contributor in aviation, accounting for up to 88% of general and 50% of commercial aviation incidents.

• Mistakes include miscommunication, momentary lapses, and in rare cases, fatigue or inexperience.

2. Maintenance Lapses

• Statistics show that as many as 38% of accidents with system trouble have roots in skipped checks, rushed repairs, or misunderstood technical bulletins (as seen in the Air India case).

3. Pilot Shortage & Training Gaps

• Massive projected need for new pilots (over 600,000 by 2043).

• Rapid hiring after COVID-19 has left some airlines relying on less-experienced pilots and slimmer training windows.

4. New Threats

• GPS Jamming & Cyber Risk: Explosions in GPS interference (up 500% since 2023).

• Climate Change: More severe turbulence than ever before.

• Air Traffic Control Overload: Understaffed and overstretched in many key airspaces.

What’s Changing in Aviation Safety Post-Crash?

• Airlines and regulators are pushing for mandatory safety checks, not just voluntary ones.

• More sophisticated Safety Management Systems and competency-based pilot training are underway.

• Technology now helps flag risk scenarios much earlier—provided the warnings are acted upon.

Final Thoughts: Should We Worry About Flying?

The answer is: stay alert, not afraid. Each tragedy is one too many, but flying is statistically much safer today than it was a decade ago.

The Air India 171 tragedy is prompting overdue scrutiny of both human and technical systems—just as it should. Lessons will be learned, and the global aviation community is already mobilizing to catch similar issues before they cost more lives.

Key takeaway:

Air safety is built on transparency, vigilance, and learning—from every report, every near-miss, and every tragedy. That’s what keeps the skies safe for us all.

Have thoughts or questions about modern air safety? Share your experiences in the comments below.