Boeing: Over 6,000 Accidents, 9,000 Deaths — Yet Airlines Continue to Buy Boeing Aircraft

The recent crash of an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to Gatwick (London) has sparked renewed public concern over the safety of Boeing aircraft. The aircraft involved was a 787-8 Dreamliner, manufactured by the American aerospace giant Boeing. According to the Aviation Safety Network database, this is reportedly the first major accident involving a Boeing 787 model.

Despite the 787 Dreamliner's previously clean crash record, the aircraft series has not been free of issues. In 2023, a Dreamliner bound for London was forced to return to New Delhi after reportedly "running a red light" on the runway — a technical aviation term indicating potential clearance or system failure. More recently, in May 2025, a Lufthansa Boeing 787 flight from Hyderabad to Frankfurt was grounded due to a nose wheel problem that prevented it from taking off at high speed.

Globally, Boeing aircraft have been involved in over 6,000 accidents, with more than 400 categorized as fatal, resulting in the deaths of over 9,000 people. While Boeing remains a cornerstone of the global aviation industry, these figures raise important questions about the safety protocols and inspection standards surrounding its aircraft.

The Ahmedabad incident involving the 787 is currently under investigation, and definitive conclusions will depend on data retrieved from the aircraft’s black box — the flight data and cockpit voice recorders.

Boeing, along with its European counterpart Airbus, dominates the global commercial aviation market. According to a report by The New York Times, Boeing aircraft are widely used across major continents including Europe, Asia, and North America.

Despite recurring technical issues and a history of accidents, airlines across the world continue to purchase Boeing aircraft in large numbers — largely due to fleet standardization, availability, and performance economics. However, aviation safety analysts argue that recent incidents, including the Ahmedabad crash, should serve as a wake-up call for more stringent global safety oversight.