
Boeing faces renewed scrutiny after Ahmedabad crash as past documentaries highlight history of fatal failures
The recent plane crash in Ahmedabad claimed the lives of over 200 people. The Air India Boeing flight, which was headed to London, went down just minutes after take-off. While investigations are still underway, the cause of the crash remains unknown.
This isn't the first time a Boeing aircraft has been involved in such a mysterious and tragic incident. Once regarded as a leader in aviation, Boeing's reputation has taken a serious hit in recent years, with several high-profile crashes raising concerns about safety and accountability.
Though the details of the Ahmedabad crash are still unclear, the tragedy brings back memories of previous incidents where Boeing jets were at the centre of controversy.
Take a look at the documentaries made related to fatal Boeing crashes.
Directed by Rory Kennedy, 'Downfall' is a powerful and unsettling documentary that examines the fatal crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, which together claimed the lives of 346 people.
The film delves deep into how Boeing, once considered a gold standard in aviation safety, prioritised profit over passenger safety. Through expert interviews, whistleblower testimonies, and harrowing footage, the documentary paints a grim picture of corporate greed, regulatory failure, and the tragic consequences of flawed aircraft design—specifically, the MCAS software that played a key role in both crashes.
'Flight/Risk', directed by Karim Amer and Omar Mullick, offers a deeply human perspective on the Boeing crisis. It follows the emotional journeys of families who lost loved ones, as well as whistleblowers and investigative journalists seeking accountability.
The film stands out for its intimate access and raw emotion, capturing not only the technical failings of Boeing but also the pain, anger, and determination of those left behind. It is a compelling portrait of justice-seeking in the face of a powerful corporation, and highlights the global implications of aviation oversight.
Produced by Frontline in partnership with The New York Times, this investigative documentary takes a more journalistic approach, unpacking how and why the 737 MAX was rushed to market. It scrutinises the relationship between Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and exposes how internal pressures to compete with Airbus led to dangerous design shortcuts.
The documentary includes interviews with engineers, aviation experts, and former Boeing employees, offering a thorough look at the systemic issues behind the tragedies.
Broadcast on BBC's Panorama, this British investigation aired shortly after the Ethiopian Airlines crash, raising early alarms about Boeing's internal practices. The documentary sheds light on the commercial and regulatory decisions that allowed the 737 MAX to be certified and sold, despite serious concerns.
It includes interviews with aviation analysts and uses internal Boeing documents to support its claims. 'The Trouble with Boeing' helped bring the story into public discourse in the UK, and contributed to growing scrutiny of the aviation industry as a whole.
These documentaries collectively offer a sobering look at one of the biggest safety scandals in modern aviation history. They not only explore what went wrong, but also raise vital questions about corporate responsibility, regulation, and the cost of cutting corners.
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Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Wreckage of Air India flightmoved for further analysis
The Gujarat Police has started shifting the wreckage of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad on June 12 to a site near the city's airport, where investigators will attempt to piece the debris back together for analysis. A truck carrying wreckage of the Air India plane that recently crashed into a medical hostel and its canteen complex passes by, in Ahmedabad, on Sunday. (PTI) 'The pieces are being moved from the crash site. Some were relocated on Saturday, and the work continued on Sunday. Every piece of wreckage is being transported from the crash site to a new location for reconstruction,' said Ahmedabad police commissioner GS Malik. Officials aware of the matter said it would take between 48 and 72 hours to move the entire wreckage of the nearly 120-tonne aircraft, which plunged into the BJ Medical College hostel 33 seconds after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport, killing all but one of its 242 passengers and crew and at least 30 people on the ground. Also Read | DGCA introduces special audits after Air India crash HT had reported on June 20 that the debris are being moved to a site near the Gujarat State Aviation Infrastructure Company Limited (GUJSAIL) office near the airport, on land owned by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), which has been identified for use in the ongoing investigation. 'Reconstructed parts of the aircraft will be examined to determine what led to the crash. The black box will be analysed as part of this process,' Malik said. Also Read | Ahmedabad crash victim's mortal remains reach Manipur, thousands pay tributes India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing the crash, while the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading a parallel international investigation into the plane crash. At least 247 persons killed in the crash have so far been identified through DNA matching and 232 bodies handed over to their families, as per officials. Both sets of flight recorders from the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner have been recovered - the first combined Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) unit was found on June 13, with the second set located on June 16. The B787 aircraft model carries two black box sets – one under the cockpit and the other in the tail section -- as standard. The debris removal and transportation process typically involves careful cataloguing and preservation of aircraft components that could provide crucial evidence about the crash sequence. Investigators must maintain a strict chain of custody for all materials, with larger structural components often moved to specialised facilities where they can be reconstructed to understand the aircraft's final moments. Critical components like engines and control surfaces undergo detailed metallurgical and mechanical analysis to identify any failures or anomalies that may have contributed to the accident.


Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Remains of all 60 foreigners with kin
Ahmedabad: Ten days since Air India's flight 171 to London crashed, bodies of victims on board and those on ground continue to be handed over to shattered families, amid the immense grief which has overshadowed the intensive DNA identification effort that is helping relatives get some sort of closure. Remains of all 60 foreign nationals on the flight have been identified and handed over, with the mortal remains of 13 more victims being given to kin in the 24 hours ending at 6pm on Sunday at Civil Hospital. This brings the total bodies handed over to 245. Officials said that so far, state forensic science experts have identified 251 bodies. Dr Rakesh Joshi, medical superintendent of Civil Hospital, said that six families are in the process of getting possession of the mortal remains of their loved ones. "The remains of two will be flown to the UK, the families of three victims identified will collect the remains on Monday, while the remains on another victim will be collected on Wednesday, June 25. The mortal remains also include 176 Indian nationals, other than 12 non-passengers," Dr Joshi said. Health department sources said that the airplane had 61 foreign nationals, including 53 British nationals (with sole survivor Viswashkumar Ramesh), seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brass Krishna Idols For Prosperity & Protection In Life Luxeartisanship Shop Now Undo Remains of all passengers have been identified and handed over to relatives, they said adding that remains of two were to be flown to the UK for last rites late on Sunday or early Monday. Meanwhile, between 6pm on Saturday and 6pm on Sunday, only five new DNA matches were found, said officials. "A large part of the identification process is over, and the last few samples may take time mainly due to the condition of the remains," said a health department official. On Saturday, the hospital had approached relatives of the eight non-passengers for DNA samples. The remains of these eight were handed over without a DNA match based on physical attributes, they added.


Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Aircraft tail snag briefly halts crash site clean-up
Ahmedabad: During the clearance of the Air India Flight 171 crash site in Ahmedabad on Sunday, the aircraft's tail section got lodged in a tree near the Anti-Corruption Bureau office (ACB) in Shahibaug Dafnala. The tail was part of the wreckage being transported in a truck to the airport for further examination as part of an ongoing probe, said V N Yadav, ACP, G Division. Police authorities blocked the road from Shahibaug Dafnala to Camp Hanuman Mandir to allow emergency teams to intervene. Shortly after, police personnel, along with a few locals, arrived at the scene and extricated the tail by trimming a few branches. The truck later resumed its journey, and the road was reopened for traffic. Commuters were not inconvenienced for long as the entire operation was conducted swiftly. No injuries or damage to property were reported. The wreckage will be kept in a hangar for investigation, which is being conducted by multiple national and international agencies. On June 12, the London-bound aircraft crashed in Meghaninagar shortly after take-off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport in the city, killing 241 passengers on board. tnn