Ahmedabad, India — In what is now officially being called India’s deadliest aviation disaster in decades, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff on the morning of June 13, 2025, killing 279 people, including passengers, crew, and civilians on the ground.
The flight, carrying 242 people on board—230 passengers and 12 crew members—took off at 5:52 AM local time from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Within 30 seconds, the aircraft lost altitude, failed to retract its landing gear, and crashed into a densely populated area near B.J. Medical College hostel complex in the Meghaninagar locality, bursting into flames on impact.
Final Moments in the Sky
Eyewitnesses described the aircraft as flying unusually low with its nose tilted slightly downward. Security camera footage shows the aircraft skimming over buildings before nosediving into the medical hostel, resulting in a fireball that engulfed multiple structures.
ATC recordings reveal that the pilot had declared a “Mayday” distress signal seconds before the crash, citing “loss of control during climbout.” Experts suspect that the aircraft’s flaps were not fully extended, and that a cockpit misconfiguration may have contributed to the failed liftoff.
Crash Site & Ground Casualties
The plane crashed into a medical hostel and nearby residences, killing at least 38 people on the ground and injuring over 60, many of them medical students. Emergency teams, including NDRF units and military firefighters, worked for hours to contain the flames and recover bodies from the wreckage.
Among the ground victims were several third-year students and hostel workers. Hospitals across Ahmedabad reported receiving charred remains and severely injured patients, prompting citywide blood donation drives and emergency alerts.
Passenger List and Notable Victims
Confirmed fatalities include:
- Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was on his way to attend a UK-India business summit.
- 7 children, including three infants.
- 53 British nationals, 169 Indian citizens, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian.
- Several senior professionals, medical delegates, and students bound for academic or visa-related travel.
Only one survivor has been confirmed:
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 28-year-old British-Indian tech analyst, who was seated near an emergency exit and thrown clear of the burning wreckage. He remains in critical but stable condition at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.
Investigation Underway
Both black boxes—the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR)—have been recovered, though one was found partially damaged. A joint investigation is underway, led by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in collaboration with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), Boeing representatives, and U.S. aviation authorities.
Preliminary indicators suggest the crash was not caused by mechanical failure or weather, but likely stemmed from pilot error or takeoff configuration issues. The aircraft had undergone maintenance just 48 hours prior and was certified for international flight.
National & International Response
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the crash site late Friday evening, called it a “national tragedy” and promised “full transparency and accountability.” He also met with victims’ families and ordered immediate compensation of ₹25 lakh per deceased passenger, along with ₹5 lakh for the injured.
Air India’s parent company Tata Group has initiated a formal apology and crisis response, offering grief counselling, legal assistance, and chartered flights for relatives of the deceased.
The UK Foreign Office has also activated emergency assistance for British victims and confirmed coordination with India for repatriation and investigation.
Boeing 787s Grounded Temporarily
In a rare move, the DGCA has temporarily grounded all Boeing 787 Dreamliners in India pending detailed safety checks. This is the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 globally, sending ripples across the aviation industry.
National Mourning
The Government of India has declared June 14–16 as days of national mourning, with flags flown at half-mast and all government functions postponed. Candlelight vigils and prayer meetings have begun across cities in India and the UK.
For ongoing updates, stay tuned to WhiteHorseDaily.com.
Leave a comment