On Thursday, June 12, 2025, tragedy struck as Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed moments after taking off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The devastating accident claimed at least 265 lives, making it India's deadliest aviation disaster in decades and one of the worst worldwide in the past ten years.
The ill-fated flight departed at 1:38 pm with 242 people on board, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. Among the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was traveling to London to visit his family.
Tragically, only one person survived the crash: 40-year-old Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin seated in 11A, near an emergency exit. Ramesh recounted hearing a loud noise about 30 seconds after takeoff, followed by the plane losing altitude rapidly before crashing. Covered in blood and dazed, he managed to escape the wreckage and receive medical treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.
The Boeing 787-8 had climbed to just 625 feet at approximately 174 knots (about 200 miles per hour) before veering off course and crashing into the BJ Medical College hostel during lunch hour. The hostel, housing resident doctors and medical students, suffered catastrophic damage. At least five MBBS students, a postgraduate resident doctor, and the wife of a superspecialist doctor lost their lives. Over 60 medical students were injured in the impact and ensuing fire.
The crash site was engulfed in flames reaching temperatures nearing 1,000 degrees Celsius, making rescue efforts extremely challenging. The explosion was so intense that limbs were unrecognizable, and many bodies were burned beyond recognition. The aircraft was carrying approximately 125,000 liters of aviation fuel, which contributed to the massive fireball that engulfed the area.
Among the families shattered by the disaster was the Saiyad family. Inayat Saiyad, a 48-year-old software professional, his wife Nafisa, and their two children, Taskin (25) and Vakee (22), had switched to this direct Ahmedabad-London flight just a day before after their original Delhi flight was canceled. Inayat's last WhatsApp message to relatives, sent shortly before boarding, read, "Boarding will start in a little while. Thanks to all the family for making this trip enjoyable." The Saiyads’ final selfie at the airport captured smiles and laughter, frozen forever moments before the catastrophe.
Relatives of the Saiyads, like many others, faced agonizing waits at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where DNA sampling was underway to identify victims. The hospital had set up a special DNA collection unit due to the severe condition of the bodies. Families were informed that identification could take up to 72 hours, a painful delay in receiving closure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on Friday, June 13, offering condolences and meeting the sole survivor. He described the scene as "saddening" and assured that teams were working tirelessly in the aftermath. The government formed a high-level multi-disciplinary committee, headed by the Union home secretary, to investigate the causes of the crash and recommend measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Investigators from the United States and United Kingdom arrived promptly to assist with the probe. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) recovered the flight data recorder, commonly known as the black box, from the rooftop of the hostel building. This device, engineered to withstand extreme conditions, holds crucial data including cockpit audio and flight parameters, which investigators hope will shed light on what went wrong.
Preliminary reports indicated the aircraft made a mayday distress call shortly after takeoff but failed to respond to further communications. A serving commercial pilot noted that the landing gear reportedly remained down after takeoff, which is abnormal, and the plane lost altitude within 30 to 40 seconds. Given the large fuel load, even a minor spark could have caused the catastrophic explosion.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered enhanced safety inspections of Air India's entire Boeing 787 fleet, which includes 26 Boeing 787-8 and 7 Boeing 787-9 aircraft. These checks, effective from June 15, focus on fuel systems, engine controls, cabin air compressors, hydraulic systems, and flight control inspections. Former Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel emphasized the urgent need for Air India’s parent company, the Tata Group, to refine critical operational aspects, particularly aircraft maintenance.
The crash sent shockwaves across India and abroad. The UK established a Reception Centre in Ahmedabad to support families of British nationals affected. Google displayed a black ribbon on its homepage in memory of the victims, while public vigils and prayers were held nationwide. The Indian Medical Association in Gujarat appealed to Tata Sons for assistance for the injured and bereaved students of BJ Medical College.
Among the victims was Harpreet Kaur Hora, a 28-year-old IT professional from Indore, who had postponed her flight to celebrate her husband’s birthday before joining him in London. Other victims included cabin crew members and young professionals with promising futures ahead. The tragedy also deeply affected the Indian diaspora, with communities in the United States and United Kingdom mourning their losses.
Locals near the crash site described harrowing scenes of devastation. A student at BJ Medical College, Arun Prashant, recalled hearing a loud explosion during lunch, followed by thick smoke and confusion. He escaped by rushing to the first floor and jumping out of the building. Rescue teams arrived 15 to 20 minutes later amid the chaos.
Authorities confirmed that the death toll included not only those on board but also residents on the ground, including medical students and staff. DNA profiling is ongoing, with over 250 samples collected to aid identification. The government has urged families to cooperate and remain patient during this painstaking process.
The crash has raised questions about aviation safety and maintenance protocols. A senior pilot who previously flew the Boeing 787 shared insights into the aircraft’s characteristics and underscored the importance of rigorous maintenance and operational standards. Experts caution that each crash is unique, and survival often depends on many factors, including seat location; the lone survivor’s seat near an emergency exit is notable but not definitively safer in all scenarios.
Actor Vikrant Massey publicly mourned the loss of his cousin, Clive Kundar, the first officer on the flight. Public figures and officials have called for transparency and thorough investigation, with Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge scheduled to visit Ahmedabad to meet victims' families and the injured.
In the aftermath, Air India’s CEO Campbell Wilson announced compensation of Rs 1 crore to families of the deceased and coverage of medical expenses for the injured. The airline has deployed caregivers and engineering staff to Ahmedabad to assist with relief and support efforts.
The crash’s financial implications are significant, with experts predicting this could become India’s costliest aviation insurance claim, potentially raising airfare premiums by 2 to 5 percent in the future.
As the nation mourns, officials and investigators continue their work to unravel the causes of this catastrophic event. The recovered black box and ongoing DNA identification efforts are critical steps toward understanding the tragedy and providing answers to grieving families. The hope is that lessons learned will lead to enhanced aviation safety and prevent such heart-wrenching losses in the future.
