AI-171 Renamed AI-159 to Prevent Data Issues

Air India Renames Flight AI-171 to AI-159 Following Tragic Crash

Air India has officially retired the flight number AI-171 and replaced it with AI-159 for its Ahmedabad to London Gatwick route, in the aftermath of the devastating crash that occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport last Thursday. The accident resulted in the loss of 241 lives, with only one survivor among the 242 individuals on board, including 12 crew members. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner also collided with a hostel at a nearby medical college, causing additional casualties.

Officials familiar with the situation confirmed that the return flight number will also be changed, from AI-172 to AI-160, with the adjustments expected to be implemented imminently. Air India representatives have not provided comments on the matter.

Rationale Behind Flight Number Change and Industry Precedents

The decision to alter the flight number aims to prevent triggering trauma or negative associations among passengers and crew. A former airline official explained that renumbering helps dissociate the route from the tragedy in the minds of travelers. This approach is consistent with past industry practices; for instance, Malaysia Airlines renumbered its Kuala Lumpur-Beijing flight from MH370 to MH318 following the 2014 disappearance, and Lion Air changed JT610 to JT618 after its fatal crash in 2018.

Despite its psychological intent, the renumbering has raised concerns regarding potential data integrity issues. Aviation analysts caution that changing flight numbers can introduce confusion and errors in data processing systems, impacting ticketing, scheduling, and historical safety records. Market observers note that investors remain cautious about the implications of such data management challenges, while some view the change as a routine operational adjustment. Competitors may also leverage the situation to emphasize their own data handling capabilities, aiming to reassure customers and potentially capture market share.

The incident has intensified scrutiny of data handling standards within the aviation sector, prompting calls for enhanced transparency and more robust protocols to mitigate confusion or errors when operational changes occur.

Ongoing Investigation and Aircraft Details

Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. Former pilots have underscored that the Boeing 787 is regarded as one of the safest aircraft fleets, and accidents of this nature are exceedingly rare. One former pilot noted the difficulty in determining the cause based solely on publicly available visuals.

According to data from Flightradar24, the aircraft reached an altitude of 625 feet at a speed of 174 knots before descending with its landing gear still extended and ultimately exploding on impact. The plane was carrying nearly a full load of 125,000 litres of fuel at the time of the accident.

Airport officials reported that an IndiGo flight, which was lined up for takeoff, aborted its departure after the pilot observed unusual noise and fire emanating from the Air India aircraft. The investigation continues as authorities seek to establish the precise factors contributing to the tragedy.