Air India Flight AI171 Used Full Runway At Ahmedabad Before Crash: FlightRadar24 Data Confirms
Air India AI171 used full 11,499-ft Runway 23 at Ahmedabad before takeoff, confirms FlightRadar24; cause of crash under probe, one survivor reported.
Air India Flight AI171, which tragically crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad en route to London, had used the full length of Runway 23, according to data released by FlightRadar24, a globally trusted aircraft tracking platform.
The service, which processes real-time signals from ADS-B receivers installed across the world, stated that the aircraft backtracked to the end of the 11,499-foot runway before initiating its take-off roll — a standard procedure for long-haul flights needing extended acceleration time. “Additional processing confirms #AI171 departed using the full length of Runway 23 at Ahmedabad. The aircraft backtracked to the end of the runway before beginning its take off roll,” FlightRadar24 posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The update came amid social media speculation about whether the aircraft had used the full runway. One user, @flybouy777, claimed the flight had taken off from an intersection point instead, using a shortened take-off distance.
FlightRadar24 countered this, clarifying that there was a brief four-minute gap in data coverage, during which the aircraft had backtracked to the runway’s start — a move not visible in the continuous ADS-B tracking but confirmed via separate receiver sources. “There is a 4-minute gap in coverage. During that time, the aircraft backtracked to the beginning of the runway,” the platform clarified. To aid non-aviation users, AI tool Grok explained the data in layman’s terms:
“Backtracking means the plane taxied to the runway's far end, turned around, and used the full length to take off. This is a normal safety step for big planes to gain enough speed for a safe climb, especially for long flights like this one to London.” Ongoing Investigation, Survivor Account Awaited.
For those who tuned in late to this horrific news, the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Thursday (June 12) afternoon, killing 265 people, including those on the ground of the crash site. As per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), there were 242 people on board the aircraft — 230 passengers, 2 pilots, and 10 cabin crew members.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by Indian civil aviation authorities in coordination with international agencies. Miraculously, one passenger seated near the Emergency Exit Door on seat 11A has made it alive and is being treated at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital after he walked out of the crash in a bruised and dazed state.
Experts urge the public to avoid speculation until the final probe results are released.
Kirti Pandey is a senior independent journalist.
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