Unlike Boeing's 737 Max series, the Dreamliner has had a strong safety record, with no fatal accidents until Thursday's crash, in which 241 people on board died.

The plane that crashed in Ahmedabad is the smallest of three types of 787, and was delivered in 2014.

The 787 Dreamliner entered commercial service in 2011. Boeing has sold more than 2,500 787s, of which 47 were sold to Air India.

The plane can normally hold up to 248 passengers, while the larger 787-9 can carry up to 296 people, according to Boeing.

"We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them," Boeing said in a post on X.

The 787 is powered by twin engines, which are supplied by American firm GE Aerospace or Rolls-Royce from the UK.

The engines on the plane that crashed were provided by GE. In a post on X, GE said it was "deeply saddened" by the incident, adding that the company is "prepared to support our customer and the investigation."

While this is the first fatal incident involving a Dreamliner, there have been previous accidents. 

In July 2013, an Ethiopian Airlines flight — which had no one on board — caught fire while on the ground at London's Heathrow airport after a short-circuit.

That same year, the global 787 fleet was temporarily grounded after lithium batteries overheated on two Japan Airlines planes in Tokyo and Boston. That incident led to design changes.

Last year, at least 50 people were injured when a LATAM Airlines 787 suddenly dropped in midair on a flight from Sydney to Auckland. 

Investigations into that incident found that it was caused by an involuntary movement with the pilot's seat.