Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025
A catastrophic plane crash involving Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, occurred on June 12, 2025, shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The London-bound flight, carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed into a residential area near the airport, killing 241 people on board and at least 24 on the ground. The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national seated near an emergency exit, escaped with injuries.
The aircraft, which took off at 1:38 PM IST, issued a mayday call 30 seconds later and crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel, erupting into a fireball. Among the victims were 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, including prominent figures like former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani and Derby-based Dr. Prateek Joshi and his family. The crash site revealed charred debris, with rescue operations continuing amidst thick smoke.
India’s aviation regulator has ordered safety inspections of Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet, focusing on engines, flaps, and landing gear. The black box, comprising the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Digital Flight Data Recorder, was recovered from the wreckage. Theories on the cause range from engine failure to potential sabotage, though experts urge caution pending a full investigation. The National Investigation Agency is also probing the incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site and met the survivor, calling the tragedy “heartbreaking.” DNA tests are aiding victim identification, with six bodies handed over to families. Political parties canceled events in solidarity. Air India has set up an emergency center to support grieving relatives, as the nation mourns this devastating loss.