Key Points
- 290+ fatalities confirmed, including 242 onboard (230 passengers, 12 crew) and 50+ ground casualties.
- Single survivor: British-Indian Vishwash Kumar Ramesh escaped from seat 11A near the emergency exit.
- Mayday call issued seconds before crash; aircraft struggled to gain altitude, crashing 32 seconds after takeoff.
- Historic tragedy: First fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its 2011 debut.
- International investigation launched with US, UK, and Indian agencies collaborating.
Ahmedabad: Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (registration VT-ANB), departed Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 PM IST on June 12, 2025, bound for London Gatwick. The aircraft, carrying 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian, reached a maximum altitude of 625 feet before descending at 475 feet per minute.
Critical timeline:
- 1:38 PM: Takeoff from Runway 23.
- 1:39 PM: Pilot Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal (8,200 flight hours) issued a Mayday call.
- 1:40 PM: Aircraft vanished from radar, crashing into Meghani Nagar’s BJ Medical College hostel.
CCTV footage shows the plane struggling to climb before exploding into a fireball, leaving the tail embedded in a building.
Ground Impact and Casualties
The crash site, a densely populated residential and institutional area, amplified the devastation:
- 294 confirmed deaths, including 3 medical students in the hostel.
- 41 injured transported to hospitals; DNA testing initiated for identification.
- Survivor account: “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise… bodies all around me,” recounted Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who sustained minor injuries.
Investigations and Responses
- DGCA findings:
- No post-Mayday communication from pilots.
- Heavy black smoke observed, indicating fuel ignition.
- International collaboration:
- UK’s AAIB and US NTSB joining India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
- Boeing’s statement:
- Manufacturer pledged support but noted the 787’s previously “exemplary safety record”.
Compensation: Tata Group (Air India’s parent) announced ₹1 crore ($120,000) for victims’ families.
Why This Crash Is Unprecedented
- Boeing 787’s safety legacy: Over 1,000 Dreamliners operate globally with no prior fatal incidents.
- Fuel load: The aircraft’s long-haul fuel capacity exacerbated the fire.
- Humanitarian crisis: Crash into a medical hostel during lunch hour compounded casualties .
Ongoing Developments
- PM Modi’s response: Directed Home Minister Amit Shah and Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to oversee rescue ops.
- Helplines:
- India: 079-25620359 / 1800-5691-444
- UK: 020-7008-5000.
The Ahmedabad Air India crash marks a dark chapter in aviation history, raising urgent questions about aircraft performance and emergency protocols. As families grieve and investigators scour debris, the world awaits answers hoping such a catastrophe never recurs.
