Ahmedabad: In a catastrophic aviation disaster, Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London, crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 pm.
The tragedy, one of the deadliest in recent Indian aviation history, claimed at least 290 lives, including 242 passengers and crew onboard and several individuals on the ground. Amid the devastation, one passenger, Vishwanath Kumar Ramesh, miraculously survived, offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise harrowing event.
The Ill-Fated Flight
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (8,200 flight hours) and First Officer Clive Kundar (1,100 flight hours), departed Ahmedabad at 1:38 p.m. with 242 people onboard, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The passenger manifest included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian national. Among the deceased was Vijay Rupani, former Chief Minister of Gujarat, who was traveling to London to join his family.
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CCTV footage from the airport captured the aircraft accelerating normally on runway 23 before takeoff. However, just 32 seconds into the flight, at an altitude of approximately 625 feet, the plane issued a Mayday call, signaling a critical emergency. Experts suggest a catastrophic failure to gain lift or thrust, as the aircraft failed to climb and began losing altitude. It crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel, igniting a massive fire fueled by an estimated 80–90 tonnes of aviation turbine fuel intended for the long-haul flight.
The Crash and Its Aftermath
The aircraft slammed into the hostel, located near the airport perimeter, where medical students were gathered in the dining hall. At least five individuals on the ground perished, with 20–40 medical students reported injured. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the crash site, noted that the intense heat from the burning fuel made rescue operations nearly impossible. “The temperature from the burning fuel was so high that there was simply no chance to save anyone,” Shah stated during a press conference.
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Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik reported that 204 bodies have been recovered, with DNA testing underway to identify severely burnt remains. The crash site, a densely populated residential area, remains under intensive rescue operations, with three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams deployed. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport has resumed limited operations, but flight schedules remain disrupted.
A Miraculous Survivor
Against all odds, Vishwanath Kumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin seated in 11A next to an emergency exit, survived the crash. Speaking from his hospital bed, Ramesh recounted hearing a “huge sound” approximately 30 seconds after takeoff, followed by the plane’s rapid descent. “It all happened so quickly,” he told the Hindustan Times. Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Ramesh in the hospital, offering support to the lone known survivor. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional survivors among those hospitalized.
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Investigations & International Response
The crash marks the first-ever fatal incident involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a model known for its strong safety record since its debut in 2011. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) from the U.S. are leading the investigation, with support from the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) due to the presence of British nationals onboard. The aircraft’s black box, including the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR), is a priority for investigators to determine whether mechanical failure, engine malfunction, or human error caused the disaster.
Global Leaders Condole Tragedy
Global leaders expressed condolences, including US President Donald Trump, who called the tragedy “terrible” and offered assistance, French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The European Union lowered its flag to half-mast in solidarity, with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs stating, “Europe mourns with India, the UK, Canada, and Portugal.”
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the crash “heart-wrenching,” assuring full support for victims’ families. Union Home Minister Amit Shah described the loss as “devastating,” overseeing rescue efforts, while Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi termed it a “tragic loss,” urging unity in support.
Air India’s Response
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson expressed deep sorrow, emphasizing the airline’s commitment to providing “accurate and timely information” while avoiding speculation. The airline has established a hotline (1800 5691 444) for families and an additional number for international callers (+91 8062779200). Two relief flights from Delhi and Mumbai have been organized to transport victims’ families and staff to Ahmedabad. The Tata Group, Air India’s parent company, announced ₹1 crore compensation for the families of each deceased passenger, with final payouts to be governed by the Montreal Convention of 1999.
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A Nation in Mourning
The crash has left India and the global community in shock. Tributes poured in, with players at the T20 Mumbai League final observing a minute’s silence and wearing black armbands. In Varanasi, the Ganga Aarti was dedicated to the victims. The tragedy has also revived memories of past aviation disasters, such as the 1988 Indian Airlines crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 133 people.
As investigations continue, the focus remains on supporting the affected families and uncovering the cause of this unprecedented tragedy. The resilience of Vishwanath Kumar Ramesh stands as a testament to human survival, even as the nation grieves the profound loss of life.
Limited Flight Operations Resume at Airport
As the nation mourns, the airport, operated by the Adani Group, has resumed limited flight operations after a temporary suspension, signaling a cautious return to normalcy.
Worst Aviation Disaster after 2020
The incident, the worst aviation disaster in India since 2020, has drawn attention to the country’s rapidly growing aviation sector, the world’s third largest and fastest expanding. The last fatal crash involved Air India Express, Air India’s low-cost arm, when a Boeing-737 overshot a “table-top” runway in southern India, plummeting into a valley and killing 21 people. That tragedy underscored the challenges of India’s diverse terrains, a factor now under scrutiny in Ahmedabad.
Air India, privatized in 2022 under the Tata Group, merged with Vistara—a joint venture with Singapore Airlines—in 2024, aiming to strengthen its global presence. The crash, however, has cast a shadow over these ambitions. Investigations, supported by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and international agencies, are underway to determine the cause, with the nation and world watching closely as India navigates this profound loss.
